No clear-cut favourite in this unruly tangle

It may seem heartless at this time of fresh starts to recall the day in early October when England departed the World Cup, but the crushing 33-13 defeat by Australia, on top of the 28-25 loss to Wales the Saturday before, are served up only as stark contrasts to the mood in England now. What a bleak time the autumn was for them, and yet how purposeful the camp seems to be now. The tone has been set, both firmly and entertainingly, by the new coach Eddie Jones, and reinforced by his born-again captain Dylan Hartley.