I actually think you're spot on that there probably have been potential English answers to Esterhuizen that have ended up in the back row - but asking an 8 to switch to 12 at international level is, in my mind, more likely to be an unmitigated disaster than a stroke of genius, particularly with defence in mind as I mentioned above.

It does feel like there has been a breakthrough in thinking around the merits of a proper unit at 12 (who doesn't neglect skills training) in recent seasons though and I'm hopeful we'll see some meaty centres with a well-developed all round game coming through Prem academy pipelines in the next few years. I'm excited to see how Lennox Anyanwu develops for us in particular...

It does feel like there has been a breakthrough in thinking around the merits of a proper unit at 12

I sincerely hope Eddie doesn't pick a forward at 12.

Ireland are over reliant but don't have as many options. What's even more staggering with England is that there's 2 ready made options in cracking form.

I do think sometimes Faz gets abuse because he's Farrell and comes across as aloof and unlikeable. This was discussed on one of the rugby podcasts recently, I can't remember which one. A leader he may be but you can't ignore that he's nowhere near the player he was a couple of years back at the moment and that he'd be a handbrake on the England team. He got in the way against Australia, he'll get in the way against Scotland if he plays.