Eddie Jones makes his feeling clear on 'overrated' Henry Pollock

“Steve will probably look back and think, ‘Maybe I didn’t get a few things right,’” he said.

“Starting Pollock — Pollock, to me, is like Bobby Skinstad. Good looking, always got a sun tan and can play.”

However, Jones believes Pollock’s strengths may be better suited to impact off the bench.

“He’s one of those blokes who plays for 20 minutes,” Jones said. “He’s one of those players who finds himself in the right position, but he’s not a grind player.”

And at Test level, especially in the back row, graft is non-negotiable.

“To play a full 80 in the back row, you’ve got to be prepared to grind,” he concluded. “And maybe that’s not the best job for him.”

With England now reflecting on a campaign that promised much but delivered little, Jones’ comments add further scrutiny to a side searching for consistency — and leadership — at the highest level.