Unless Clive Woodward and Martin Johnson are indulging in an elaborate game of bluff, England can expect to be led into Six Nations battle next month by their regular captain.
Despite not having played for a month, Johnson insisted yesterday he would be fit to face Ireland on February 5th and dismissed reports suggesting his career might be in jeopardy as "grossly exaggerated".
With Woodward already without the likes of Kyran Bracken, Darren Garforth, Dan Luger, Danny Grewcock and David Rees, and with Jeremy Guscott having retired from international rugby, the true state of Johnson's Achilles tendon is of interest to observers already alerted by the installation of Matt Dawson as England's official vice-captain.
Time is fast running out for the Leicester skipper to prove his fitness but he is refusing to panic. "It has taken longer than I thought and has been frustrating but I'd hope to be able to play before England play Ireland," he said yesterday, speaking at the first of England's two brief January get-togethers.
"Physically, apart from the one injury, I feel fine. It's no point saying two weeks before the game `I'm not available' and then finding yourself fit four days later. You've just got to take it day by day. There's a chance I'll be running again next week and playing in two weeks. If it takes longer, it takes longer."
The long-term outlook for Bracken, Rees and Grewcock is gloomier, with Woodward resigned to being without all three for the duration of the championship. "I've spoken to Kyran and the people at Saracens and they're talking about March so in terms of Six Nations it's looking very doubtful," Woodward said. "David Rees hasn't played any rugby on a consistent basis for a long time now and Grewcock is about to have an operation."
Luger and Garforth may yet come back into contention but Woodward concedes there could well be opportunities for several of the younger members of his preliminary 36-man training squad.
Woodward is determined to draw a line under the World Cup and move on, possibly with the help of some new faces. "The World Cup was disappointing but you don't suddenly become a poor side overnight.
"Two years ago potential English players were much thinner on the ground but we suddenly seem to be getting that bit of depth and talent. It's a question of whether they can make that big step up.
"You've got to look at players who are playing well week-in, week-out, like Ben Cohen at Northampton and Bath's Iain Balshaw. It's no point moaning about the fact there are a few players injured."
Woodward denied he was feeling massive pressure to succeed in the Six Nations as a consequence of England's World Cup failure.
"There's pressure whatever you do but I don't feel under any more pressure now. I'm more determined and feel in a bit of a corner because of the disappointment of the World Cup but you have to be very positive and concentrate on the good points of the team. I think we'll have an excellent side against Ireland in a few weeks' time. That's my only priority.
"My contract ends in August and as I said after the World Cup I intend to honour that unless the RFU want me to stand down. I enjoy doing this job. It has massive highs and massive lows and you hope the former outweigh the latter. I can't wait to play a game and try and erase the disappointment of the World Cup."
