Andy Robinson is facing the most difficult 24 hours of his time as England's head coach as he agonises over whether to retain several other ageing members of Clive Woodward's World Cup-winning squad in the wake of Jason Robinson's decision to retire from Test rugby.
The coach paid rich tribute to his namesake yesterday after the 31-year-old made it known he was quitting the international game with immediate effect to spend more time with his family.
The England management's priority is the 30-man squad for the autumn Tests due to be announced at Twickenham tomorrow. With Robinson not involved, the odds on a call-up for the Wasps fullback Mark van Gisbergen and Saracens' Dan Scarbrough have shortened and the door has been left ajar for Mark Cueto and a host of other promising young wings.
Robinson would almost certainly have featured in the squad but his place in the XV to face the Wallabies in November was less assured. The former Wigan rugby league wing endured a poor Lions tour after flying out late and has struggled in the past year to recapture the scoring knack.
He remains, however, a unique talent who lit up both codes of rugby, never more memorably than in Sydney two years ago when his clenched-fist salute after scoring his side's only try in the World Cup final against Australia was one of the enduring images of the tournament.
"Jason touched people's hearts with the way he played the game," said Andy Robinson yesterday. "He set England alight on the training pitch as well as in the games. We've thoroughly enjoyed the time spent working with him and wish him all the best for the future."
Robinson scored 22 tries in 39 union appearances for England, as well as representing the Lions on successive tours. "Physically I know I still have a lot to offer England, so this was a hard decision," he said. "I didn't want to let Andy down but the pull of my family proved greater. I have five beautiful children and a beautiful wife and it's time for them to be placed first. My children want their daddy, not some so-called superstar.
"This is the right time to do it as we've just had another child and it's all hands to the pump. People forget I've been on the international scene since 1993. Twelve years is enough and it's time to move on. Winning the World Cup was probably the best moment but captaining my country was something I never dreamed of."
If he had not enjoyed such a lean Lions tour to New Zealand, maybe Robinson's appetite for Test rugby would be keener. As it is, even those who doubted him when he switched to union and made his England debut in 2001 will miss "Billy Whizz" and the dazzling footwork that made the impossible seem commonplace.
