It is all happening, too, for fellow back-rower Langi Gleeson. Capped as a Wallaby before getting any meaningful time in Super Rugby, Gleeson will want to hit the ground running. Hopefully, though, he will realise how lucky he is just to be playing.

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His first contribution to the Narrabri trial a fortnight ago was to upend Queensland No.8 Harry Wilson, who landed on his head. In the absence of a TMO, Gleeson was given only 10 minutes in the bin. When Filipo Daugunu did precisely the same thing in a pre-season trial, he got five weeks. Please make the most of your escape, Mr Gleeson.

Waratahs fans will venture forth warily. They have been burned many, many times before and will need convincing. As one reader put it on Tuesday in response to Georgina Robinson’s story about Coleman wanting to turn Allianz Stadium into a Fortress of Fear, “Walk the talk and I’ll be there.”

Jones will be there, too, assessing two of the great powerhouses of Australian rugby. If it emerges that one of the teams dominates this year, it will make his planned “smash-and-grab” raid on the World Cup a tad easier. It’s always helpful if one team supplies the bulk of the Test side.

But that doesn’t look like happening this year. The Tahs are strong, the Brumbies are strong. And it may well be that if the Taniela Tupou-deprived Queensland set pieces hold up, starting with the Hurricanes in a steamy Townsville on Saturday night, it could be the Reds who complicate matters with their slick offloading game.

So, a potential three-way blend looms, with Izack Rodda, Trevor Leota, Andrew Kellaway and Reece Hodge thrown in. And if there is to be a one-off bolter, allow me to venture one name without comment: Tom Lynagh, who is starting the year as Queensland’s third-string five-eighth.

There are any number of reasons Australian rugby has a spring in its step at present: the Wallabies coaching switch from passive to active, the possibility of the game emerging with a future-proofing fund of between $150-$200 million from the 2027 World Cup, fair payment at last for the Wallaroos, a world-class training centre about to come online at Ballymore…

But for the buoyant mood to be maintained, the Waratahs must walk the talk. They don’t necessarily have to win. But they do have to show up.

Watch all the action from the Six Nations with every match streaming ad-free, live and exclusive on Stan Sport. Round 3 returns Sunday 26 February, with Italy v Ireland (1:05am AEDT), Wales v England (3:35am AEDT) and France v Scotland (1:50am AEDT).