On the face of it, this was just a normal Six Nations team announcement. Eddie Jones talked about processes, his team selection, the pressure of the job, of 'finishers' and the desire to win. Dylan Hartley spoke in his usual measured tones, restored after having missed the defeat in Paris.
But after the week England have had, this was the most curious, fascinating, unusual of team announcements.
"I am not the reservoir of wisdom," Jones said as he answered whether he has looked elsewhere for inspiration as he seeks to halt England's two-Test losing streak. Hardly a sign of the rot creeping in, or of England having already peaked, but with Warren Gatland cranking up the pressure on Jones' underperforming side, there was a bullishness about the way he talked about their prospects.
All this amid the furore over the comments which came to light on Wednesday, which he made last July over their Irish and Welsh rivals. After the "scummy Irish" and the "s---" Welsh, Ireland's potential Grand Slam was third or fourth on the agenda.
Jones' derogatory remarks about Ireland and Wales did not quite make front-page news, but a prominent radio breakfast show asked their listeners whether they should debate Jones' comments about Wales and Ireland, or alternatively whether this country was on the verge of war with Russia. They went with Jones.
Later he would shut down any further talk over his comments, from him at least. "I've made the statement, I don't need to say anything else on it ... I think the other matter is dead." Still the questions came, those near and far still feasting on jibes made in jest.
You sensed Jones loves the pressure. Though he has apologised for his comments, and stuck to those words, refusing to elaborate further, he thrives under these sorts of situations: England facing criticism after two underwhelming performances, schadenfreude from elsewhere and amusement poked in Jones' direction.
He pointed to other times in his career where he has felt the public glare and having to right a misfiring team. He name checked the three defeats he suffered at the start of the 1999 season at the Brumbies, the three of the four Tri-Nations Tests he lost while with South Africa in 2008 and when his Wallabies side lost by 50 points to New Zealand.
"All these periods are sent to test you and you learn from it, and become a stronger team," he insisted
But he stayed as composed as ever, only returning fire once on a reporter who asked whether there was a conflict of interests with England bringing in a South African referee this week who is touch judge for Saturday's Test. "What, are you questioning his integrity?" Jones asked. "We went through World Rugby, which is the proper channels, so you are asking the wrong person."
The England coach back in charge, although later qualification would come that World Rugby had royally messed up. Attention, rightly, pointed at the governing body's door.
Then the seven changes, the most he has made during his tenure, bar the Lions-less Argentina tour. Panic? No, instead, bullishness. Look not into this team for World Cup hints, was his message.
On the contrary, he offered the usual "only thing I know at the moment is my best 23 for Ireland" mantra. There is a double vision with Jones, one looking to the World Cup, one ever-focused on the present.
Two defeats on the bounce -- just three in total during his tenure, which can be easily forgotten -- but again optimism, realism. "This is going to be good for us," he said. "I love it. This is what we get paid for as coaches. It's the best time in rugby, when you are under the pump and you have got to produce it. And the team feels the same way."
Then, processes. Sticking to their guns, focusing on what delivered the unbeaten 2016, the Six Nations title last year and just one defeat until they travelled to Murrayfield at the end of February. Faith in the team for this Test. Eight times he mentioned getting on the front foot.
He wants England to explode out of the blocks on Saturday. Although he didn't say it, it was as if he wants them to play in his own image -- confident, controlled and punchy. "We've got human beings, but I think we're moving towards the right arousal state," he said, referencing his own way of talking about them peaking at the correct time.
And so after all that, to Ireland. They are chasing the Grand Slam, the form team in Europe. They want the clean sweep, England need to get back to winning ways. He said they have weaknesses, of course all teams do, but everything he said about them was calm, measured, ever looking for introspection. He wants his England team to get their "moments" right.
He, by his own admission, isn't the reservoir of wisdom, but though there is a feeling of uneasiness about England, after the most tumultuous of weeks, they are far from drowning. Proof of that though, rhetoric aside, will come on Saturday.
"It is a fantastic test for us. It is the first time that we have been tested like this," Jones added. "It is better off happening now than later on."