England two-point loss to New Zealand On Saturday, it wasn’t entirely George Ford’s fault after his crucial missed kicks, compatriot Marcus Smith said.

Smith, 25, scored 17 points and set up England’s only try before being replaced in the final quarter by 97-cap Ford, who missed a potential match-winning penalty and a last-gasp drop.

At the time of Smith’s departure, England were eight points ahead.

But a try from winger Mark Tele’a, who shrugged off Ford’s attempted tackle, and five points from substitute Damian McKenzie gave the All Blacks the lead with three minutes remaining at Allianz Stadium.

Ford had a chance to drag England back into the game but couldn’t find the clinical kicking needed as New Zealand held on for a 24-22 victory.

“Sometimes that’s the life of a kicker, we’ve all been there. It’s part and parcel of the job,” said Smith, who struggled off the tee in the opening defeat to New Zealand in July.

“I learned so much from George. He’s an incredible kicker, both off the tee and off the tee. It was one of those days.

“The reason we didn’t win the game had nothing to do with him. It was a team effort. Every kicker in the world has been through that.”

Following McKenzie’s brilliant touchline conversion following Tele’a’s try, Anton Lienert-Brown mistimed a tackle to give Steve Borthwick’s home side a chance to regain the lead.

Ford’s penalty hit the post and was dropped by New Zealand, giving England an unexpected second chance to snatch the match, but Ford failed to convert the drop with the clock in the red .

In March, Smith scored a drop-goal on the final play from a slightly closer spot to defeat Grand Slam-chasing Ireland.

“As kickers we always practice drop-goal, but it’s very different when you’re in front of 80,000 people and the All Blacks are shouting ‘Drop-goal! Drop-goal!'” added Smith.

“It’s an extremely difficult kick. Fordy is a master at this. We live this scenario week in and week out.

“We practice it as kickers every day, but sometimes it doesn’t work for you. We’re all human and people miss it.”