English rugby was flying high after  their famous World Cup-winning display in the Aussies' backyard - but sadly they've been on a downward spiral ever since. Four years have passed under the bridge and the freewheeling world champions have been looking decidedly hungover.

We'll forget the abysmal spell under Andy Robinson's coaching. But even In their second Six Nations international this season, Phil Vickery's men gave a shapeless display at Twickenham against so-called whipping boys Italy. England won 20-7 but at no stage did they look anything like the domineering giants of the 2003 World Cup.

I am no expert on the game; in fact I normally think of rugby as a game for big, hulking prop forwards or beefcake locks who could be mistaken for nightclub bouncers. However, at its best rugby is one of the most thrilling, if occasionally over-physical spectacles. And when the ball is being swung around the pitch with wild abandon, the hairs on the back of the neck can just stand up.

Sadly, though, England lacked both the fire and aggression they’d shown against Scotland the previous week. Their backs and forwards never linked as effectively, possession was too easily thrown away in the scrums and there was a distinct lack of urgency.

Once again it was comeback king Jonny Wilkinson, the fly-half whose goakicking clinched the World Cup, who dragged English rugby out of the compost heap with a string of successful penalty kicks. But as an armchair follower of the game, it seemed to me that England lacked the snap and crackle of old.

The likes of Wilkinson, Josh Lewsey, Harry Ellis, Mike Tindall and Danny Grewcock all seemed out of sorts and heavy-footed. There was a sluggishness and sloppiness about their play that must concern new coach Brian Ashton. For Wilkinson and company, this was not an afternoon that will please the rugby union top brass.