Diet has reflected the need for forwards to have a greater influence around the pitch, and one of Lovell’s greatest sources of pride is the impact Billy Vunipola has been able to make from No8. If one player exemplifies the demand to get smaller rather than bigger, it is the man who has made perhaps the greatest strides under Jones, even if his knee injury means he will miss Saturday's final Test of the year.

“I first met Billy when he was 14 and he was significantly overweight - he actually weighed more then than he does now," says Lovell. “He had a massive fondness for white bread sandwiches and would have had hardly any muscle. His shape is massively different now, as is his weight [125kgs]. It’s education about food that’s important for him, as it is with a lot of these guys.”

Haskell is one who has taken that to the next level, releasing his own book – Introduction to Becoming and Remaining Rugby Fit – in a bid to help others know what to eat in order to make themselves more mobile. In Haskell’s case that means five meals a day, with a set formula to each of 40 per cent protein, 40 per cent carbs and 20 per cent fat.

“As more money goes into the game I think we will treat it more like the NFL,” he says. “They have so many more coaches, sports scientists and so on. As more money goes into the game we will realise that a single player could be worth something like £90million – that’s a very expensive commodity and you need to keep it running smoothly.

“Rugby has so much data on us physically but I don’t think it is used or understood yet. That will improve though. It will be fascinating to see where it goes next.”