England driving in right direction thanks to harmonious understanding between five-star forwards and backs "Stu made a big thing about it going to France," Cole went on. He wanted us to believe in our scrum and the backs to come forward and celebrate the minor victories at scrum time. He saw it work last week and he wanted us to carry it on this week. "Scrum-time" was hammer-time for England. The ambition of this side spread from the underworld of the front row all the way to full-back. Chris Robshaw, who has been granted a week in the sun by his club, Harlequins, as a reward for his sterling work as England captain said: "The front five were absolutely magnificent in the way they won the penalty try and several penalties after it." Those names again: Cole, Dylan Hartley, Alex Corbisiero (front row), Geoff Parling and Mouritz Botha. This was hardly a gang to set the rest of the Six Nations mob trembling. Nor is the front five where you look for glamour. But against Ireland it was this dark realm where progress became so evident. Tom Croft, the blindside flanker, said: "We've come further than we ever thought we would." He also offered the first sign that these players are developing their own power base. We might see less of Uriah Heep from now on. Croft said: "The players have taken a lot of ownership of the side. So if it didn't come down to Stuart whoever came in would need to understand there is already a strong base of players here and they already have ownership of that side. Any other candidate for the full-time England role would read that with raised eyebrow. Cole, meanwhile, enthused about Rowntree: "What he's done for us as a forwards coach is shown by how we've played right across the Six Nations. He trusts Geoff Parling in the line-out, he trusts the younger players, he trusts Corbs, Me and Dyl and we're all indebted to him for that. He shouts and gets you motivated but he doesn't just shout for the sake of it. After the rant he sits down and explains technically what he wants you to do. Croft said: "It's a front row you'd expect to see for the next eight or 10 years. Corbisiero came from nowhere really and he's claimed ownership of that loose-head shirt. Coley's absolutely huge. He battles hard at Leicester, he battles hard at England, he's a real cornerstone of English rugby at the moment. Culture, structure, strategy, tactics - it's just a good bunch of players. Players, management - the right mix. The mentality and work ethic are there. It's the best it's been for many a year. We were massive underdogs against Wales [in their only defeat]. That hit home. You should never be underdogs on your own turf. The spark was there in Paris and that teed us up for today. Cole speaks with the wryness you would expect of a hulk who uses his skull as a battering ram. A pat on the back from a winger? Very nice. But you can see the depth of his pride, too, when the three amigos win a battle: "We've developed as players - myself and Corbs and Dyl. We're mentally attuned. We know when you walk into a Test match like this, if you don't switch on for the first scrum you get hoed. We've had the attitude that we need to play from minute one. That's growing up - the mental side of the game. Physically not much has changed. We go to our clubs and train there and hit scrums. But it's more mental - the belief in the team. That mantra again. Cole says the warmth flows both ways between the two halves of this side: the kite and its tail. "We celebrate when the backs score a try, but usually they sprint off, and use that as a resting period," he smiled. We get them on the way back. For a set-piece we're all there together. And they're fresh the backs, aren't they. Nice dig. So what might the hard-scrummaging Springboks make of England's improved tight five ahead of this summer's tour? Cole tried to answer but gave up: "I don't really care to be honest." Another sign of confidence. Maybe you need to pursue a hellish trade and work in virtual darkness to see the truth. Cole said a good team is born "when you see who wants to be there, and who doesn't." England know now.