The first two rounds of the Six Nations have exploded across the sporting landscape insuperlative – draining displays of skill and power. But still the England Rugby Union team is as baffling as Fermat’s Last Theorem. Why is it that a nation with resources other countries can only dream of performs so fitfully? How come England can produce a coach in charge of the world’s top nation – but that nation isn’t England?

The England result against Italy looked good on paper, especially when compared with Italy’s narrow defeat by France, but closer analysis isn’t so encouraging.