England rookie Chandler Cunningham-South was being mentored for weeks by Richard Hill without knowing he was talking to a World Cup winner.

Cunningham-South made a strong debut off the bench in Saturday’s 27-24 victory over Italy, becoming one of two flankers to win their first cap in the Guinness Six Nations opener alongside Ethan Roots.

As England team manger with the additional role of talent identification for the pathway, Hill has influenced the rise of both players as well as the likes of Sam Underhill and Tom Curry.

Hill’s keen eye for future Test stars is valued highly by head coach Steve Borthwick, who revealed when naming his Six Nations squad last month that “if Richard tells me to track a back-row forward, I’m listening”.

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Cunningham-South had Hill’s approval when on England Under-20 duty but presumed he was speaking to a random enthusiast rather than one of the country’s greatest flankers and a veteran of 71 Tests, including the triumphant 2003 World Cup final.

“There was no doubt that, as an 18-year-old, Chandler’s physicality of carry was not quite the norm for his age compared to others that I was watching,” said Hill, who was initially alerted to him by his first club London Irish.

“He was doing fantastically well so I made sure that I connected with him at the Under-20s training sessions.

“I carried on chatting to him and then after a number of meetings that I’d had with him, Jonathan Fisher, Irish’s academy coach, decided to ring me after a chance meeting.

“John said that Chandler has just told him how he turns out to Under-20s training and ‘a couple of times this guy’s come up to me and you know, he’s had a chat about my game’.

“’He seems to understand how to play and he’s got some reasonable ideas. You know, he sounds like he knows what he’s talking about’. So yeah, that was me!

“He found out probably three months ago that I played in the World Cup. Chandler’s not that fussed about what’s gone on in the past.

“He wanted to know why I didn’t tell him. I said it had no bearing on what we’re trying to achieve, which was him, not me.”

While Cunningham-South’s 14-minute cameo against Italy was rich with promise, Roots was close to the finished article in being named man of the match following a superb display at blindside flanker.

Borthwick first became aware of Roots when he was coaching Leicester against the Ospreys but it was when Hill showed him footage of the 26-year-old cage fighter playing for Exeter during last autumn’s World Cup that he really took notice.

Fast forward five months and the Chiefs forward is part of Borthwick’s England rebuild, providing vital carrying muscle to a side that is short on defence-busting power.

“If there is someone of interest for the future then I’d make Steve aware – and Ethan was one of those players,” Hill said.

“I knew he had a skill set that would interest us – he can carry the ball, carrying into contact, heavy contact, and defensively physical at the breakdown.

“He has been physical and consistent in terms of the performances he put in since joining Exeter this season.”

Roots is expected to continue in the number six jersey for Saturday’s visit of Wales to Twickenham, with Borthwick naming his team on Thursday afternoon.

Boss Richard Hill was brimming with pride after Eastleigh’s FA Cup fairytale continued with a 2-1 second-round victory over League One Reading.

The National League outfit defied a 36-place gap in the English football pyramid to reach the third round for the third time in their history.

Femi Azeez looked to have rescued the Royals a replay as his 86th-minute equaliser cancelled out Paul McCallum’s first at Silverlake.

But prolific striker McCallum was the hero as his winner deep in stoppage time – his 18th goal of the season – secured a trip to either Newport or Barnet.

“It feels fantastic,” Hill said. “There were 3,500 Eastleigh fans here today. You know I don’t get emotional, people call me dour and people tell me to smile, but that was big for this football club.

“I don’t celebrate goals, but that one at the end was special. You can’t blame me for that, I couldn’t help it.

“We were hanging on, second half, let’s make no bones about it.

“I knew we’d have to hang on. When they’re bringing on the cavalry, you know you’re in for a tough time. Our lads did great, they stood firm.

“I signed Macca here a couple of years ago in my second spell at the club. I’ve got a little bit more relaxed with him because he does what he does on match-days. On some days you have to let Macca be Macca.”

Hill continued: “I went to watch (Reading) on Tuesday (5-1 League One win over Carlisle). They made eight changes and it was helpful!

“I was glad Lewis Wing wasn’t starting and I was pleased to see Harlee Dean on the bench because he heads everything out of the box.

“I thought we had a chances against the two inexperienced centre-halves with Scott Quigley and Macca up front, and so it proved.”

The result marked the second time in three years the Royals have been dumped out by non-league opposition after their defeat to Kidderminster two seasons ago.

Boss Ruben Selles made eight changes for the cup tie and it came back to haunt him as they went crashing out.

Fans protested against owner Dai Yongge by throwing tennis balls and fake money onto the pitch in the 16th minute, symbolising the points deductions since he took charge.

Earlier this week, it emerged staff were only partially paid as the players received full wages to avoid another points deduction.

Selles said: “It’s disappointing. It’s a cup game, we went down in the first half, but we managed to get to 1-1 and create the chances and we didn’t take them.

“I wouldn’t change the team I picked. We have made changes this season. We beat Millwall, we were competitive against Ipswich, we were the most successful team in the EFL Trophy group stage. There’s no regret there.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t give the fans anything after they gave all their support.

“It is good to see they keep their faith in the team and supporting the boys. I am very grateful for that.

“I want to congratulate Eastleigh, they played their game and they were strong in the aerial duels. I wish them all the best.”