'This is the first England team I would not have been dreading going on a stag with'

I felt it slightly. Did you? Maybe not happiness when they were winning. But definitely disappointment when they lost.

It was the first time. Normally at a major championship Ireland are not there. So a huge amount of our spare emotional energy, that would otherwise be supporting our own team, has to go somewhere. And typically in the past it went on wishing England to be knocked out. But it was gradually feeling a bit stale to be still living our lives vicariously through England’s repeated failure. I mean, it was funny in a sitcom sort of way. England was Hyacinth Bucket, getting carried away with airs and graces and notions before the Onslow of Fate shattered its illusion and condemned it to be upside in a hedge or falling into a lake out of a pedalo.

But this was different. This England wasn’t deluded like Hyacinth. The team seemed more approachable. Of course it comprised players paid more in a year than most of us will earn in a lifetime, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be likable.