It was also an unhappy red-letter day for Nathan Hines, the lock winning his 50th cap but earning an early sin-binning for a swipe at Wales full-back Lee Byrne.

BBC: Fear drives Wales team forward

Also added to the bench are Northampton lock Courtney Lawes, who won his first cap as a replacement against Australia last November, and Brive hooker Steve Thompson.

BBC: Worsley replaces Moody in England side to play Scotland

Player agents have also been quite aware that the owners might lock the players out if they did not agree to a salary cap.

FORBES: Too Much to Lose