All in all, Farrell’s return would have been encouraging for both Mark McCall and Eddie Jones. He will improve, too.

You sense England find themselves in a stick-or-twist situation as far as their midfield. Joe Marchant was a big winner of the Six Nations. Do they keep together Marcus Smith and Henry Slade, who have played together in each of their last 10 Tests? Or will Farrell be reintegrated at inside centre with the remit to provide direction while Smith adopts deeper positions, from which he can isolate defenders and beat them with his footwork? 

That was the division of labour in the short moments that Smith and George Ford shared on the field during the Six Nations. We also saw a similar arrangement between Farrell and Smith against Australia last November. For all the talk of a free formation and a desire for unpredictability, England lacked control and composure.

Farrell’s versatility is also handy if Jones wants to load six forwards on to the bench. That would be a useful option against the Wallabies this summer. First, though, Farrell needs to prove his fitness for Saracens. They face Sale on Friday before a Challenge Cup contest against Brive. Matches against Exeter, Worcester, Northampton and Gloucester follow.  

That will be his period of consolidation, although it will not be particularly quiet. Because then we come to the play-offs of what has been a compelling Premiership campaign.  

Match images from of BT Sport