Guide to England

14 April 2012

England's immediate post-World Cup challenge is almost as daunting as their task in Australia last November - how to keep winning without the two greatest match-winners in world rugby.

Jonny Wilkinson's last 19 matches at fly half resulted in 19 wins. Martin Johnson swept all before him in his last 16 matches as captain, and between them they gave their team an aura of invincibility which reached the giddiest height in Sydney.

Now, 12 weeks on, the team Sir Clive Woodward sends out to confront Italy in Rome on Sunday will be very different to the one responsible for winning the World Cup. Johnson's retirement meant he was never going to be there, but Wilkinson's elimination from the entire five-match series because of injury leaves Woodward scratching his head for a replacement.

The choice is complicated by Charlie Hodgson's temporary removal with more knee trouble and Mike Catt's inability to turn out more than once for Bath in the last three months, due to a chronic lower-back condition.

Rome marks the start of the long haul to France in September 2007. After the revolution, the evolution. Others will follow Johnson into retirement, either of their own volition or, as seems to be the case with Neil Back and Kyran Bracken, who were left out of England's squad yesterday, because they were pushed.

Before the next World Cup, Woodward will have to replace some more household names, among them Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Leonard, Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood, Mike Catt and Jason Robinson.

The trick will be to change the components while keeping the engine running smoothly. Not that Woodward will be obsessed by long-term planning. 'The World Cup is not the be-all and end-all,' he says. 'If you start planning ahead, you end up losing your job.'

For England's nearly men the championship is too good an opportunity to miss, especially for Simon Shaw, short-changed over the years but now, surely, about to come into his own as Johnson's second row successor. He certainly deserves his chance. Others ought to make their mark, like Ollie Smith, Andy Gomarsall and Matt Stevens.

RISING STAR
JAMES SIMPSON-DANIEL
He's 21, lightning quick and in electrifying form. Was unlucky not to make the World Cup but needs to overcome injury again.

TEAM PIN UP
JOSH LEWSEY
The dashing blond full back may be 27 but he still has the cheeky schoolboy smile. Looks the part - all that time in the gym has honed his fantastic physque.

SIN BIN KING
DANNY GREWCOCK
Has tried hard to curb his Mr Angry reputation but still went and ripped an Aussie's scrumcap off and whacked Dallaglio in a club game.

OVER THE HILL?
JASON LEONARD
The prop with a world record 113 caps has defied the ageing process for years. But, at 35, the end may now be in sight.

INSIDE THE CAMP
with BEN KAY

Age: 28 Position: Lock Club: Leicester

First Five Nations memory?

Going to a party when I was about five and my mum listening on the radio as Dusty Hare kicked his penalties for England. It was funny to end up working alongside Dusty at Leicester, where he works at the academy.

Best memory as a player?

Probably my first try for England, against Ireland at Twickenham. It wasn't my usual flop over the line either but I didn't celebrate very well. I just got up and started walking back. I should have thought of something more imaginative.

Best ground?

The Millennium Stadium, especially if the roof is closed.

Worst insult directed at you?

Someone at Leicester once shouted: 'See if you can get into the England team' when I'd been a regular for a couple of years already. I remember thinking: 'Have I made that small an impact?'

Are you recognised more since the World Cup?

I was in Marks and Spencer's with a handful of lingerie - buying the missus's Christmas present - and someone came up and said: 'Can you sign this book for my son'. So I had to say: 'Er, OK, but can you hold all of this for a minute?', which was quite embarrassing.