Perhaps because Opoku-Fordjour did not fit the old narrow-minded mould, he also sided with the gang.

While he played tight at Sale, he switched to a loose-minded player in the England Under-20s; here Gloucester’s Afolabi Fasogbon and Bath’s Vilikesa Sela gave England massive depth in a third.

The trio were hugely impressive in the team’s age-group World Cup win in the summer, and their set-piece dominance tore France apart in the final.

These are not the only reasons to be cheerful.

Harlequins’ 22-year-old Baxter made his Test debut in the summer. Teammate Nathan Jibulu, 21, is set to put pressure on central contract holder Theo Dan, 23, at hooker.

Northampton’s Tarek Haffar and Emmanuel Iyogun (both 23) are two more promising prop prospects.

As a result, England are hoping for a golden generation behind Marler and Dan Cole, who are nearing the end of their careers, and Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, aged 29 and 28 respectively.

West believes that once the transition is complete, Opoku-Fordjour will choose to remain in the difficult position again.

But in modern Test rugby, versatility could be the key to the next level and a place in the team.

West and Titterrell had a different day. Replacements were rarer. The experts stayed put. And the set piece was more chaotic.

Images of playdates provide entertainment for young people rather than education.

“Kids laugh now when they see footage of the games we play,” West says.

“Back then the referee didn’t have much involvement in the interaction in scrums – you just got together and got on with it.

“There were more hits, there were a lot more attacks on the ground, and there was a certain amount of brutality in that as well.

“Even so, the players now are much bigger and probably stronger than we were in the past. What they do these days is completely different things.”

Different styles but same destinations. Opoku-Fordjour and others are rapidly emerging onto the international stage and, as with turmoil, they will make some changes once they are in place.