England 33-19 New Zealand: How Twickenham learned to love the bomb

The depth nurtured in Argentina over the summer has created a team with many strengths and high competition.

Borthwick has been adept at choosing the right time to stick with his team.

His faith in Dingwall, who has more nuanced strengths than some of his midfield rivals, has paid off. His call to bring Ford, the third-choice fly-half in the Six Nations, into the fold has also been vindicated.

The impact of his much-vaunted bench in the second half was less evident.

When he pulled the pin on the “Boom Band,” there was not the immediate swing in momentum that we expected.

But that was partly due to the good performances of the key players.

Ultimately, England had too much attacking dimension and it was difficult for New Zealand to contain them.

When Bullock took that final kick and Roebuck picked up the ball and put it in, it resulted in an almost surreal ’33-19′ on the Twickenham scoreboard.

Just three games short of England’s famous 2012 win over the same opponent, but exceeding all England fans’ expectations.

Three years later, of course, the 2012 team crashed out of the Rugby World Cup on home soil, failing to make it out of the pool stage.

As the rafters shook, pints were poured and joyful cheer filled Allianz Stadium, it seemed impossible that this team would follow the same path.

It is certainly still rising, like George Ford’s bomb.

Borthwick, as always, kept a lid on emotions and expectations afterwards.

“It is a team that is developing, a team that is growing,” he said.

“It’s a team that needs experience together and that’s exactly what they do every time – go away every week, train hard and focus on what needs to be improved, and it shows on the pitch.”

“The team has great confidence in our preparations, in the way we try to play and in the ability we have within the team.

“It’s about trying to make special moments and special memories. Today is one of them.”

If they can subdue a dangerous, if tiring, Argentina side next weekend, it would mark 11 successive wins for England and just one defeat in 2025.

The numbers that were perhaps most telling were on the Twickenham decibel scale, demonstrating a love for the team that was not always felt.