The television cameras were spoilt for choice.

During injury hold-ups and TMO deliberations – and there were plenty – they could swivel into the stands to pick out a variety of famous faces.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, sitting between Red Roses Zoe Aldcroft and Marlie Packer, joined in a Mexican Wave.

England hooker Jamie George, who has previously trained with his women’s counterparts, chatted away with former wing and ever-present pundit Ugo Monye.

The Rugby Football Union’s Bill Sweeney, who survived an attempt to oust him from his chief executive post earlier this year, enjoyed an afternoon in the comfy seats.

But the most telling cut-aways came in the 21st and 27th minutes.

The first shot featured a grim-faced John Mitchell. The England coach had just watched England finally fire up their driving maul, shove Australia into reverse and plough over the line.

Only for hooker Amy Cokayne to spill forward as she attempted to ground the ball.

When the camera panned to his Australia counterpart Jo Yapp shortly after, they caught her quick grin.

Australia scrum-half Samantha Wood had just rifled a superb 50:22 into England’s red zone.

The Wallaroos were ahead 7-5 on the scoreboard at that point. The danger of them being edged out of the quarter-finals by the United States was receding fast. The odds on an outrageous upset were also coming in.

Australia and Yapp didn’t hit that jackpot in the end.

England ended up 40-point winners. They claimed their 30th straight victory. They made the last eight and are three matches from the giddiest glory.

Mitchell’s side came up with the right numbers but the coach will mark them down for failing to show their best in their working.

After a 92-3 hammering of Samoa, England were unsettled by Australia’s intensity and refusal to roll over.

The Wallaroos came with brain as well as brawn, poking holes with kicks in behind England’s defence.

They found space, bought territory and unsettled the hosts’ back three.

Canada, New Zealand and France, never mind England’s last-eight opponents Scotland, will have taken note.

Under pressure, England went to their trump card.