STEVE Borthwick tore up his playbook with the team he selected to face Argentina and his boldness saw a team that had sleepwalked through August stir themselves, but a victory against Argentina when they were a player short for all but the first three minutes raised another issue.
The game's commanding figure was outside-half George Ford, who was playing because Owen Farrell was banned.
It was his composure at a time of stress that steered England to a commanding and decisive victory while Courtney Lawes led the side, as he had in Australia last year, with a calm authority.
Farrell will miss the game against Japan next Sunday as he completes his ban for a high tackle on Wales back rower Taine Basham, but will there be a place for him in the final group match against Samoa and the quarter-final which is now far more probable than possible? That Argentina unravelled so completely was down to the pressure Ford exerted.
England finishing a match without scoring a try would ordinarily prompt outcry and inquests, but here it did not matter.
He ensured that the one-man disadvantage did not matter and he rolled back the years by resorting to a relic of the game, the drop goal.
Drop goals used to be worth more than a try, four points compared to three, but they have become a rarity in the modern day as teams look to turn visits to the 22 into seven points.
England have struggled to score tries this year and when they lost Tom Curry after three minutes and trailed to the subsequent penalty by Emiliano Boffelli, a team under pressure had to look to develop within itself.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.