A priest I know thrust a piece of paper into my hand last month. He had the Rugby World Cup on his mind and was sharing with me something he’d written years ago after England won the competition. He’d put together a “God Squad” of 15 fine human qualities you’d want to see on the rugby pitch of life. At full back, for example, he’d selected love. I think I’d go along with that. Love, like any decent full back, is vital going forward and is, after all, the last line of defence for us all.

Other selections I wasn’t quite so sure about. In the front row he had courage, patience and perseverance. The hookers and props I’ve met in my time certainly didn’t lack for courage or perseverance. And I suppose you need a degree of patience to be a hooker, as you can’t start hacking away until the ball goes in the scrum. But I do think for authenticity’s sake there should have been some nod towards the sheer wanton brutality necessary to compete in the front row. This is a concern, for if there is nothing brutal about this XV we’re going to struggle to survive at the highest level and no mistake.