Wales' props made just one carry between them and gained zero metres in stark contrast to England's

Wales once played an international rugby match where the Monday morning debriefing made for an especially uncomfortable session for the two props and hooker who'd started.

None of them had made a single carry or tackle during the game that had been played.

“There has to be more,” the coach told them.

It wasn’t a lifetime ago.

But it was embarrassing for those involved.

Even back then, the roles of those who ply their trade at the sharp end were changing.

That process is accelerating today.

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While the basics are still hugely important — of course they are, with a prop who can’t scrummage about as useful as a lifeguard who can’t swim — the number of looseheads and tightheads contributing busily around the field has gone through the roof.

Figures from Twickenham on Saturday were revealing.

Although Wales’ starting props shaded the scrum battle, forcing penalties out of their direct opponents, there wasn’t a huge amount in it, whereas the figures for the work done with ball in hand were eye-popping.

Between them, Wyn Jones (1) and Tomas Francis (0) managed just one carry between them, compared with Ellis Genge (13) and Kyle Sinckler (11) putting in 24 runs as a pair.

The Welsh duo also failed to make a single metre, while Messrs Genge (68) and Sinckler (30) gained 98 metres.

Such numbers do make a difference.

Genge isn’t the greatest scrummager in the world — he’s conceded three set-piece penalties in this tournament compared to the one Jones has coughed up — and he doesn’t endear himself to everyone but he impressed with his all-round contribution against Wales.

On BBC’S Six Nations Rugby Special, former England captain Dylan Hartley said: “I love what Ellis Genge is