Henry Slade believes his best is yet to come now England have stopped playing by numbers.
The Exeter star won a European Cup, a Premiership and a Six Nations during a 41-cap journey which also took him to a World Cup final.
But he too often operated in the shadow of Owen Farrell, rarely showing more than glimpses of his rich talent.
Then came his match-winning display in England's defeat of world champions South Africa three weeks ago.
With Farrell absent and George Ford dropped, Slade conjured assists for all three tries in an 80-minute tour de force. And it felt good.
“We set up to play to our strengths, that’s what I’ve been wanting to happen for a long time,” he said. “The campaign was such a breath of fresh air.
“We weren’t constricted by the numbers on our backs. It was fluid, everyone moving around, good rugby players making good decisions, playing to each other's strengths. I think that’s what rugby should be.
“It enabled me to get my hands on the ball more and express myself by doing more of what I perceive to be my strengths than I have in the past.
“Previously I’d been running hard lines and dummy lines. I’ll happily to do that but distributing, getting the ball to space, fixing up an inside defence, that’s probably more my strength.”
Eddie Jones had sensed the time was right for Slade, promoting him to a vice-captaincy role in recognition of his growth in terms of influence on the team.
The Plymouth-born star responded by delivering tries for Manu Tuilagi, Freddie Steward and Raffi Quirke with perfectly timed and weighted passes.
With Farrell likely to miss the start of the Six Nations after undergoing ankle surgery, Jones is set to again turn to Slade and Marcus Smith to spearhead England’s attack.
“I definitely feel my best is still to come,” he said. “I’m only 28. I didn’t get pubes until I was 16! I’ve got a lot more to give.
“The way rugby’s going at the minute and the way England are transforming the way we play is really exciting.”
Fourteen months after scoring the try which sealed Exeter’s first European Cup, Slade returns to the competition tomorrow at home to Montpellier.
It means renewing acquaintances with Handre Pollard, the Leicester-bound Springbok fly-half who broke his heart in the 2019 World Cup final.
“I’ve played against him since Under-20s and he’s obviously world class,” Slade said. “We're going to have to be right on our game defensively. We’re looking forward to a good old ding dong.”
World Cup-winning prop Vincent Koch will leave Saracens for Wasps at the end of the season.