Six Nations: Finn Smith and Maro Itoje take on the dispute on the pitch

The exchange between the pair became something of a running gag within the camp in the lead-up to England’s final round meeting with France on Saturday, with Smith, who is 5ft 11in, 13st 13lbs and 15 caps, joking that he and Etoye, who is 6ft 5ins, 18lbs and 101 caps, would resolve a difference of opinion physically, rather than verbally, next time.

“I thought it was funny,” Smith said. “Maru and I were joking about it this week, and I told him that if he yelled at me like that again, I would punch him!”

Itoje, who is usually a calm presence on and off the field, insisted that his raised voice was not a loss of nerve.

“I didn’t really lose him!” He laughed. “You don’t see me holding a microphone very often. I don’t always hold the microphone up, but maybe I’m playing a facade.

“Finn is my man. The way I try to do things is to hear what the key decision-makers think about what happens, and obviously whoever plays 10 will have an important role in that.

“It’s good when people in the team feel like they can express their point of view, and in sport, if anything, this is the most fallout the world has ever seen.

“We’ve had more frank conversations between us and our other teammates.”

England had reason for frank discussions during this Six Nations after three successive defeats left their title aspirations in tatters.

Another against France would mean England finishing with one win from their Six Nations campaign for the first time since the tournament was expanded in 2000.

England have lost just four matches in a single edition of the 143-year-old tournament twice before, in 1972 and 1976.

Smith, who made his first start for England in the win over France last year at the start of a run of 12 successive victories, is in an unfamiliar position.