As to what style of play England will play, Jones referenced an analytical tome on football that he had read, entitled Soccernomics. It spoke of the rewards to be gained from hoofing the ball upfield, the long-ball game, taking zero risks, much in the style of Stoke City of yesteryear. “If you want to play like the old Stoke City, then that is the safest way to play, isn’t it?” Jones said.

“Just stick the ball in the air, chase hard and get everyone to clap. If you are not a strong side, you can guarantee a close game. Rugby is exactly the same. Every time you run with the ball, you take a greater risk than if you kick. We don’t want to be reckless. But we don’t want to be like Stoke City of old either.”

Jones explained his preference for Bath’s Jonathan Joseph over the in-form Wasps outside centre Eliot Daly as being rooted in the “greater experience” of Joseph, adding that he been struck by how well Daly was playing.