Along with backs coach Andy Farrell the new management turned to youth and with players such as Owen Farrell and Ben Morgan shining their faith has been repaid.

Lancaster is now favourite for the full-time job after four wins out of five and Rowntree insisted the young English team’s performances had made the poor show in New Zealand a distant memory.

“We've been born again as a new team under Stuart. It’s hard to reflect on that [the World Cup]. That was such a long time ago and we’ve come such a long way,” he said.

“It’s been an emotional ride this last eight weeks but the credit tonight lies completely with that young group of players.

“I look at the pack and half that pack debuted in Scotland. A new set of forwards, a front row average age 24 and they’ve driven everything.

“I’ve kept an eye on what they’ve done but their passion and the energy and their want to do well for each other, I’m so proud of them.

“We are born again, have made everyone proud of us again and we are still not the finished article. There’s still loads more to come.”

England’s scrummaging against Ireland was immense helped not least by No.8 Morgan who was named man of the match for a barnstorming display.

The 23-year-old – who turned down an approach from Wales to play for his mother country – has won plaudits for his all-action displays this season and the Scarlets player paid tribute to the interim coaching team.

“Coming out here in the wet and performing like that against a tough Irish side was incredible,” he said.

“We’ve only been together for eight weeks now but the team Stuart Lancaster has brought in has just made us grow.”