There are weeks when the art of selection becomes more about psychology than anything else. Put the data to one side for a second and consider the players the opposition would least fancy facing. How can you make your own team feel more optimistic and less weighed down by negativity? And, in doing so, send an extra frisson of excitement down the spines of your own fans when they see the team sheet?
So let’s huddle up tight and, ahead of the penultimate weekend of this Six Nations, consider what a down-at-heel England should do next. Their final two games are against Ireland and France and, even allowing for the problems in the French camp, the time has come to change the mood music at Twickenham. Simply sticking to what they have done so far is not going to be enough.
