Lancaster’s humility and hard work rubbing off

The last decade in English rugby can perhaps be summed up by one question: ’How do you follow Martin Johnson?’

Harsh? Maybe. But the Red Rose has withered under the glare of the giant with the furrowed brow ever since 2003.

In the immediate aftermath of that triumph in the World Cup, England searched for an on-field leader as effective as Johnson, but without success.