George Ford celebrated his 31st birthday in Saturday's Six Nations finale against France, but could have been forgiven for thinking all his Christmases had come at once.
The Sale fly-half has rediscovered his Test swagger, and will surely now lead England's backline for the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand.
Ford has boasted the potential to boss a Test backline for more than half his life, starring in senior rugby from the age of 16. The ex-Leicester and Bath playmaker admitted before the Six Nations, though, how he had sometimes struggled to be "the man" for England, given Owen Farrell's enduring prominence.
As Farrell stepped away from Test rugby after the World Cup, so Ford had an unprecedented chance to step up. After a circumspect Six Nations start, no one encapsulates England's tournament progress more than Ford, who now has control of the No10 shirt.
Ford to start and Smith to finish offers England a seriously threatening foil for the future
The Oldham-born outside-half declared himself "a different player" after Saturday's match, having hit back to his full attacking groove.
Harlequins tyro Marcus Smith could well have started the Six Nations at fly-half for England had a calf problem not struck on the eve of the tournament.
Ford took a tentative step into the starting line-up and out of long-time team-mate Farrell's shadow, struggling for fluency, along with England, from the off. But then England clicked accuracy and mindset into gear amid an aggressive new attack — and Ford proved central to the recalibration.
He admitted he had become too focused on territorial control over attacking dominance in recent times in England colours.
If the shackles are off, though, Ford's pragmatic edge will never truly desert him, and neither should it. Ford to start and Smith to finish offers England a seriously threatening foil for the future: Ford can pilot them around the field, as well as making the new-look attack tick, before the high-octane Smith can terrorise tired legs and broken defences.
Much as Ford hailed England's renewed attacking energy, his astute territorial percentage plays still pay dividends. Early on against France, he had the chance to run at the home defence in the wide channels, just outside the opposition 22. With no hesitation, he drilled the ball out on a grubber to pin France back for a lineout deep in their territory. Given the lack of support, this was entirely the right call, applying a choke hold on the hosts.
Compare and contrast with Smith attempting a snipe from halfway, only to be hauled down and turned over.
Smith's abundant attacking talents remain enticing to England, but he will need to temper those instincts to become the long-term starter at fly-half, though his increasing comfort in the secondary position of full-back provides England with extra bench flexibility in any case.
The Steve Borthwick era is finally taking positive and progressive shape.
Bullish centre Ollie Lawrence offers a physical foil to Ford or Smith at 10, while new wings Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman are robust and direct, as well as fleet-footed finishers. George Furbank has added an attacking dimension at full-back that Smith can also provide.
I had a look at myself and how I could influence more ... I feel like a different player
Spare a thought for Freddie Steward, who remains the world's pre-eminent high-ball specialist in both defence and attack. Steward will have to hone his foot speed in attack to force his way back into Borthwick's first-choice XV.
Borthwick may well ask several senior stagers to give him one more campaign, this time for the solitary June Test in Japan and the two July clashes against the All Blacks.
Danny Care's stunning form extended his Test career beyond the World Cup, and the 37-year-old could remain an ultra-reliable option at nine, even though Alex Mitchell is the nailed-on starter.
Bath's Ben Spencer and Bristol's Harry Randall remain next in line should Borthwick look for a change-up.
Props Joe Marler and Dan Cole seem almost able to do a job for life, but England need younger front-rowers to make serious breakthroughs.
Beno Obano and Joe Heyes will be challenged to step up, while highly-praised youngsters Afolabi Fasogbon and Asher Opoku-Fordjour continue their development.
Borthwick has vowed to take the strongest possible squad on the summer tour. That might limit the new faces, but not the new-found impetus.
