On Saturday, for the third time in four years, England captured the World Rugby Under-20 Championship after demolishing a much fancied Ireland side 45-21.

It was only a couple of months ago that England’s juniors had finished fifth in the Six Nations tournament. Yet the appointment of Haag as coach and the return of several leading lights such as Northampton’s Harry Mallinder, who was man of the match with a 25-point individual haul, has transformed their fortunes.

Mallinder was already registered on the English rugby public consciousness having established himself in the Saints first team last season. The benefit of that Premiership experience was shared by Will Evans, the Leicester openside, and Joe Marchant, the Harlequins centre, and it seems no coincidence that they were three of England’s outstanding players.