For a man once thought too small for international rugby, Neil Back has cast a long shadow over his England successors.
 | TOM REES FACTFILE Date of Birth: 11 August 1984
Height: 5ft 11in
Weight: 15st 10lb
Club: Wasps
Premiership starts: 27
Heineken Cup starts: 6
England caps: 3 |
Since Back took his leave from the Test scene, six players - Richard Hill, Michael Lipman, Andrew Hazell, Lewis Moody, Pat Sanderson and Magnus Lund - have had a crack in the number seven shirt, with varying degrees of success.
But Wasps open-side flanker Tom Rees, the latest incumbent, looks to be the best bet yet.
Like Back, Rees is an out-and-out open-side specialist - a square peg in a square hole - unlike some of the converted blind-sides who have struggled to fill the void.
And Rees spent his formative rugby years trying to learn the tricks of the trade from the Leicester legend.
"Neil Back was a player I spent a lot of time studying when I was younger," the 23-year-old told BBC Sport
"When I was growing up and watching England, the back row of Back, Hill and Dallaglio was just awesome, and I always paid particular attention to what Neil was doing. He was a master of what he did.
"But I always want to learn more. You can learn things all the time, even from backs.
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"There are other players that I have paid - and continue to pay - close attention to as well: France's Olivier Magne, Australia's George Smith and, of course, New Zealand's Richie McCaw are all outstanding players."
Rees has long been earmarked as an outstanding talent in his own right, representing England at under-16, 18, 19 and 21 level before making his senior Test debut against Scotland in February.
And this time last year - when Rees had less than 20 Premiership starts under his belt - England star Josh Lewsey told BBC Sport that his Wasps team-mate was destined to lead his country.
| He's worth his weight in gold Rees's Wasps and England team-mate Tim Payne |
"I don't want to burden him but I think he's a future England captain. He has a great work ethic on the pitch and he is a bright lad, a nice guy and very modest," said Lewsey.
"He has all the elements of a natural leader."
Rees certainly lived up to the modest part of Lewsey's description when the idea was put to him.
"I'm very flattered to hear that from a player who has achieved as much in the game as Josh has - although I'm sure he'd never say it to my face!" said Rees, who captained England Under-21s.
"But I've only got three caps under my belt and playing against France will be my first start.
"Of course it's something I would be massively honoured to do, but you'll forgive me if I don't get too ahead of myself just yet."
 Back was an integral part of England's World Cup winning side |
Another member of Wasps' England contingent, prop Tim Payne, also had nothing but praise for his team-mate.
"Tom's worth his weight in gold," Payne told BBC Sport.
"He's worked hard for the last couple of years, but he's really come into his own in the last few months.
"Physically, he's in great shape - he's strong over the ball and very quick off the mark, and he can really read a game."
Rees started the Six Nations behind Sale flanker Lund, but England's hammering by Ireland has seen the positions reversed for France's visit to Twickenham on Sunday.
"It's always tough when you have to go head-to-head with someone for one place," said Rees.
"What makes it worse, in a way, is that Magnus is an absolutely top fella.
"But it's got to be good for England to have players fighting for positions. He's been raising the bar every time and it puts the pressure on me to match what he's done before and maybe go beyond it."
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