His partner Sandra gave birth to a daughter, Francesca Belle, who weighed in at 8lbs, on Monday.

"Sandra gave birth to a baby girl in the early hours of the morning here," said Leonard.

"I was tempted to go back and we discussed it at length. I've been on the phone all the time and it is hard. The main thing was when the due date was, because she'd been late the first two times, so I might have gone home and missed the birth.

"Also it would have caused disruption for the two boys. They'd got used to the idea of me being away and if I'd gone back for two days and then come back here again they'd have been going 'Where's daddy?'"

By the time daddy comes home he could have added a world record for international appearances to the honours accumulated in his distinguished playing career.

He won his 109th cap against Samoa and if he features in the next two games will draw level with Frenchman Philippe Sella on 111 at the quarter-final stage.

The next target on the NEC Harlequins' prop's mind, though, is for England to 'fine-tune' some of the elements of their game and he argues that the tough pool games should put the side in good shape going into the knock-out stages.

"We've been frustrated with some of the games we've played," he admitted.

"We've played some very good rugby and some not so good. But where we are now is where we wanted to be and now we just want to fine-tune a few things.

"The Georgia game was tough, South Africa was tough and Samoa was tough. We've had the benefit of playing these tough games and it prepares you better knowing you've been in tough games and come out the other side."