With five youngsters handed their first starts, Josh Bassett, Anthony Turner and Sam Hill all responded with a try while the rugby played at times was scintillating.

Luke Cowan-Dickie and sub Marlande Yarde also chipped in.

After their game against Italy was frozen off, Hunter’s men have a 100per-cent record and in pole position to follow-up their 2011 Grand Slam following the 59-3 thumping of Scotland..

But despite being pleased with the victory Hunter doesn’t want his young charges to rest on their laurels and believes they would be punished far more ruthlessly when they face France on March 10.

“We were really pleased as that is the first time that squad has played together and despite looking a bit nervy at the start they settled down and played some good rugby,” said Hunter.

“But gosh, we still have got a lot to do, it may sound strange saying that after a 40 point to nine win but for example we gave away too many penalties.

“I think we need to improve our tackling which did get better as he game went on and our work at the breakdown.

“In attack we are always looking to improve – our passing needs to be better as we lose opportunities because of it.

“There is not an area where we don’t need to get better but that is the exciting thing about this team as we have performed well but there is an awful lot more to come from this group.”