It was no surprise to anyone who knows him that Sam Underhill’s England debut was an unqualified success.

The 20-year-old openside flanker was part of an impressive England team that defeated Argentina 35-25 in Santa Fe and clinched a 2-0 series success.

“I was very proud and not too nervous, as I've never seen him have a bad game” said Sam Underhill's dad Greg when he spoke to The Local Answer.

He still hasn't, of course, after playing the first hour of the second Test.

His level of performance and consistency has been showing on a rugby field for the best part of a decade since he first picked up a rugby ball and ran with it at Sir Thomas Rich's School in Gloucester at the age of 11.

A local lad since his parents moved back to Gloucestershire in 2006, he also played for Longlevens, Gloucester and Cinderford, before moving to Cardiff University and Ospreys. He is now preparing for the next phase in his club rugby life following a move to Bath.

Unfortunately, Underhill picked up a shoulder injury before departing for Argentina when playing for England in the non-cap international against the Barbarians and didn’t recover in time to be considered for the first Test.

However, in the second Test he more than played his part, working tirelessly and prominent in defence to help ensure that Eddie Jones' honeymoon period continues to set new records for longevity.

Sam has got plenty on his plate right now, not only trying to establish himself in the England squad but also settling into his new surroundings at Bath and getting game time with competition from the likes of Louw, Faletau, Garvey and Mercer.

Greg is fulsome in his praise for both Tommies and Longlevens.

“Sam was very lucky to play for two very good teams,” he said. “At Tommies he had Rhys Williams as his director of sport, who was a big influence on him as well as Chris Carter and Rhys Davies.

“At Longlevens he had an excellent coach in Gerard Jenkins supported by some former Gloucester rugby players such as Pete Jones and Laurie Beck.

“He played with some very good players when he was coming through, including Tom Griffiths who is a centre now at Saracens and although none of the players he played with at Tommies are in the full-time game they were still very good players.

“They often out-thought bigger and better resourced teams and Longlevens won the County Cup two years in a row, with Tommies winning the schools county cup and reaching the quarter-finals of the National Daily Mail Cup.

“When Sam was in the Gloucester Academy he was loaned to Cinderford and helped play a small part in them avoiding relegation from National One.

“After that he moved to Cardiff University to study economics and started to play for Ospreys. But it was the local Gloucester rugby that helped to shape him as a player and gave him a really good grounding.”

After his international debut, he looks sure to have a big future in the game.