Where does this leave Farrell?

"It was Ford's composure at a time of stress that steered England to victory"

- PAUL REES

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.