KEY POINTS:
LONDON - No side has ever successfully defended the World Cup and few observers expect England to end that sequence when the 2007 tournament gets underway in France next month.
England became the first northern hemisphere side to lift the trophy when they defeated hosts Australia four years ago with Jonny Wilkinson's extra-time drop-goal sealing victory.
But since then the old Australian jibe against English sports teams that the 'Poms don't have a problem with losing, they have a problem with winning', has proved all too accurate in the case of the world champion rugby union team.
They've finished no better than third in the last four editions of Europe's Six Nations Championships and in that time have got through three head coaches.
The crunch game in their Pool looks like being against South Africa, who've won their last three Tests against England. A win there could pave the way for a quarter-final against Wales but defeat would leave them contemplating arguably the tougher propect of a last eight clash against Australia.
Labelled 'Dad's Army' four years ago, England head into this World Cup with an even older squad, their average age 29.
"We need some players who are adaptable and versatile. But the overriding thought I've got in my mind now is that players who go to the World Cup have got to be mentally tough," said England coach Brian Ashton.
His decision to turn to fall back on experience is unsurprising given the uncertainty that has surrounded the England team in recent seasons.
When World Cup winning chief Sir Clive Woodward quit in September 2004, claiming he wasn't being given enough time with his players, he was replaced by his former deputy Andy Robinson.
The ex-England flanker's time in charge was played out against a backdrop of off-field rows and England won just nine of his 20 Tests in charge before he was forced out.
But England now appear no nearer to solving the problem of how to turn possession into points.
Retired World Cup winning centre Will Greenwood has yet to be satisfactorily replaced and a variety of differing miedfield combinations since they lifted the William Webb Ellis Trophy have been a testament to England's difficulties in finding a creative spark.
Even as their undeniably strong pack were running riot with a record 62-5 rout of Wales a fortnight ago, they still managed to squander some clear try-scoring opportunities out wide.
Confronted last weekend with a side who could match them physically, England couldn't take their chances against France, who they play again in Marseille on Saturday, and lost 21-15 at Twickenham.
"We worked hard to get possession and had three or four opportunities to score in the second half and blew them all," said Ashton. "You don't win against good sides like that and you don't win World Cups like that.
Coach
Brian Ashton
The 60-year-old was handed what many regarded as a 'hospital pass' when he replaced Andy Robinson as the coach of a struggling England side in November last year. His first two games in charge saw wins against Scotland and Italy. But in their next match England suffered their heaviest defeat against Ireland, losing 43-13. Ashton built his reputation as an attack-minded coach while in charge of Bath in the 1990s and when England's backs coach, from 1998-2002. He previously had an acrimonious spell as Ireland coach from 1997-98. How England perform at the World Cup may well determine whether he is a 'stop-gap' appointment as coach.
Key Player
Jonny Wilkinson, outside-half
Sometimes the focus on Wilkinson can create the impression that England cannot win without him. But despite a succession of injuries having sidelined him from international duty for much of the past four years, no other No 10 has managed to make the shirt his own. Wilkinson's ability to kick accurately from hand as well as punish opponents with penalty goals are vital to England's strategy and it would be a huge blow to their World Cup hopes were he to be injured again.
- AFP
