There have been some big characters among England’s biggest men in recent years, with Joe Marler, who retired in the autumn, the most notable. Vice-captain Ellis Genge speaks his mind to those inside and outside the camp, while former skipper Jamie George is still a key leader. Even Cole has his own podcast.
Stuart, who will end the Six Nations on 50 caps if he plays against Italy and Wales, prefers a lower profile.
“I am pretty awful,” he smiles. “How can I put this? I am not the most sociable person, I am a bit of a hermit.
“I live in a little village outside of Bath and it is very quiet, which is my set-up and how I like it.”
It is getting difficult for him to escape the hubbub though.
His form, and Ireland tight-head Tadhg Furlong’s injury run, has put him firmly into Lions contention.
Stuart would be a first-time tourist – his Lions memories don’t stretch as far back as his books.
He remembers watching the 2013 trip to Australia at school and then, after turning professional, hearing Bath team-mate Jamie Roberts recount his experiences on repeat.
“He was always reminding everyone that he was the Lions man of the tour in 2009, he wouldn’t stop going on about it,” Stuart jokes. “I think he made us watch his clips.
“I haven’t really thought about it. After the last summer I just needed to knuckle down, game by game, and play well. I am just trying to stay along those lines.”
Reading up on the past, while not reading too far into the future, has kept him well on course so far.
