Former center Will Greenwood has tagged head coach Steve Borthwick for bringing Marcus Smith off when England were in command against the All Blacks.

The 25-year-old had a good game at Twickenham on Saturday, scoring 17 points as they went into the final quarter with a 22-14 lead.

Black-smith He also set up Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s try with a fine break following an interception, meaning his withdrawal was surprising.

It was replaced by George Ford for the final 18 minutes, but it turned into a disaster for the experienced playmaker.

Ford’s mistakes

First, Ford missed the tackle on Mark Tele’a in the build-up to the winger’s second try before miscuing two late kicks as New Zealand cruised to a 24-22 victory.

Greenwood was frustrated, writing in his Telegraph column: “To let this lead slip away, at home, with the way the match had unfolded, was almost unforgivable.”

Defeat also remained a theme for England, who suffered several close defeats in 2024, including three against the All Blacks.

“Match closing has gone from a thorn in England’s side to a chronic illness. And, at the heart of the second-half collapse, the head coach’s substitutions Steve Borthwick were in the spotlight,” Greenwood wrote.

“Marcus Smith was six from six from the start, with 17 points to his name, when the fly-half was replaced by Ford in the 62nd minute.

“It’s Ford who hasn’t played a minute of rugby since September 28, when he limped off with a thigh injury in the sixth minute of Sale’s defeat to Saracens.

“Ford is a good player, but he was rusty – he missed a tackle on Mark Tele’a’s late try, missed a late penalty and a drop-goal – and Smith was running the show.

“Replacing a 17-point flyhalf seemed insane at the time and with Ford skewing his potential match-winner, that proved to be the case.

“The change seemed planned in advance and in no way reactive to what happened during the match. To quote Kung Fu Pandawe often meet our destiny on the path we take to avoid it.

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Closure of the game

Greenwood also felt England’s approach was all wrong after Ford arrived on the field. The great Red Rose insisted Borthwick’s men were predictable when the fly-half replaced Smith, leading to their downfall.

“Ford’s introduction signaled the parking of the bus from England. “Naively, the Borthwick team thought they could have an eight-point lead against New Zealand,” he added.

“These All Blacks may not be the best in the world yet, but they are a nation that, no matter which side they play for, will always have the X-factor and the firepower to overcome a deficit of eight points.

“England, who barely created a try chance throughout the match, had to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and trouble New Zealand with ball in hand.

“Instead, Ford’s arrival triggered a sense of predictability and hyperbolic pragmatism in England. There’s nothing wrong with kicking – I’m all for it, in fact – but there has to be an element of deception.

“As soon as Ford came on, every time England had possession the whole team would go into a chase formation. New Zealand took advantage and the pressure finally started to show.

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