The depth that has been nurtured in Argentina over the summer has created a squad of many strengths and high competition.
Borthwick has been adept at picking when to stick and twist with his team.
His faith in Dingwall, whose strengths are more subtle than some of his midfield rivals, paid off. His call to usher Ford, third choice fly-half in the Six Nations, back to the forefront has also been vindicated.
The effect of his much-vaunted bench in the second half was less noticeable.
When he pulled the pin on the ‘Pom Squad’, there was not the immediate momentum swing we expected.
But that was partly because the starters had performed so well.
Ultimately England had too many attacking dimensions, too many options to be contained by New Zealand.
When Pollock poked through that final kick and Roebuck picked up and went in, it brought up an almost surreal ’33-19′ on the Twickenham scoreboard.
Only three short of England’s famous 2012 win over the same opposition, but in excess of all but England fans’ wildest expectations.
Three years later of course, that 2012 team flamed out of their home Rugby World Cup, failing to get out of the pool stage.
As the rafters rocked, the pints spilled and a joyful giddiness filled the Allianz Stadium bowl, it felt impossible that this team would follow the same trajectory.
Like a George Ford bomb, they are surely still rising.
Borthwick, as ever, was keeping a lid on emotions and expectations afterwards.
“It’s a team that’s developing, a team that’s growing,” he said.
“It’s a team that needs experience together and that’s exactly what they’re doing each time – go away each week and train really hard and being focused on what to improve, and that’s showing on the pitch.
“The team has a lot of belief – in our preparation, in the way we are trying to play and in the ability we have within the team.
“This is about trying to achieve special moments, special memories. Today is one of them.”
If they can subdue a dangerous, if tired, Argentina side next weekend, that would be 11 successive wins for England and only one defeat in 2025.
The numbers that were perhaps most telling though were on the Twickenham decibel meter, showing the love for a team that has not always felt it.
