And yet he can't get a sniff behind a wannabe fly half, a bloke who's, er, big with a bad haircut and Methuselah.
Our best scrummager's at home, our fastest wing is at home, our best number 8 is at home, if you listen to Olyy one of our best 9s is at home, our only play making centre's at home……
Simmonds and Nowell having a good laugh from France. Presumably post RWC all of Ribbans, Arundell, J Willis and Marchant will also be ineligible plus how many more will tread that path - if there are places available it really could become a flood.
Post tournament, international retirements, whether on their terms or otherwise, surely beckon for Cole, Lawes, Binny, Youngs, Care, Manu & Marler. George may hang around until replacements emerge but like Farrell his best days are in the rear view mirror.
Others who should be at their very peak just aren't showing it - Sinckler, Itoje, Genge and Watson.
It really is a mess, and the tone of the press is changing.