FIVE THINGS WE’VE LEARNED FROM THE AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS

NOTHING WRONG WITH ENGLISH RUGBY’S PRODUCTION LINE

Quirke, Bevan Rodd, Jamie Blamire, Freddie Steward, Nic Dolly. Be honest a month ago you’d barely heard of them. Truthfully, weren’t you bemused when Eddie Jones jettisoned the Vunipola boys, Jamie George (briefly) and George Ford? Just goes to show the depth of quality coming out of the Prem.

IT’S GOING TO BE A HELL OF A WORLD CUP

Take away England in 2003 and no European nation has ever won the World Cup. Nine tournaments, eight southern hemisphere winners. What odds now after a month in which England, Ireland, France, Wales and Scotland have each taken scalps? ENGLAND NO LONGER DEPEND ON OWEN FARRELL It would be ridiculous to write off Owen Farrell, or Ford for that matter. But what the last three Twickenham weekends have shown is that England no longer rely on them. Marcus Smith and Henry Slade actually thrived with the added responsibility. EDDIE JONES DESERVED TO SURVIVE ENGLAND’S SIX NATIONS FLOP

Last but one in the Six Nations, England were embarrassed in spring and Jones was dragged over the coals. He survived and this autumn has vindicated the RFU’s faith. He has reinvented the team, blooded and backed youth. In turn they have repaid his belief.

INTERNATIONAL RUGBY AT ITS BEST TAKES SOME BEATING

It started with Ireland beating the All Blacks last weekend, continued with England’s last-gasp defeat of South Africa and climaxed with France’s epic take-down of New Zealand on Saturday night. Dublin, Twickenham and Paris jumping to the beat of Test rugby, at its best a spectacle hard to beat.