With the Rugby World Cup  fast approaching, England coach Brian Ashton believes he has a team that can mount a serious challenge to retain the crown they won in 2003. I think not.

England's recent games against Wales and in some ways France have been seen as an indication that Ashton's men have been slowly moving up the gears and would appear to be hitting some kind of form at just the right time. The nightmare tour of South Africa seems to have been forgotten and if you listen to the players, some expectation rather than hope has arisen of winning the Webb Ellis Trophy again.

The England squad were treated to an extreme training camp with the Marines whereby the team were apparently deprived of sleep and given hardcore exercises, monitored at every point by gun-toting soldiers. The last team to do this were the Springboks under Rudolph Straeuli in 2003 - and look where that got them. Well, naked mud-wrestling and piggy-back rides in certain  instances should not be smirked at  - I should know!

'If Samoa's recent results from the Sevens and Pacific Championships are anything to go by, England and South Africa are in for a shock'


Don't get me wrong, England will field a good team, but like his football counterpart Steve McClaren, Ashton appears to be reverting to his 'old faithfuls' after seeing his young guns pounded abroad. In fact, 12 of the 2003 team remain.

Lawrence Dallaglio is likely to start in place of Joe Worsley or Tom Rees on the flank and expect to see Mike Catt make regular appearances. Martin Corry, who has been shocking on recent international duty and Mark Regan will also probably take their places in the starting line-up, as will Jason Robinson, adopting a floating position somewhere near the wings. So does the inclusion of these battle-hardened individuals increase their chances of winning? The answer, quite simply, is yes. But that all depends on who you are playing against (i.e. they should beat USA).

I am sure that Ashton will look to introduce his younger players (a pity to see that young David Strettle has been ruled out) later on in most of the games, but by that time victory may already be beyond them. England have been looking at the South African game as the vital crunch match in the pool stages - a wrong move as I believe this game has already been lost.

Samoa, who gave England the run around in 2003 and were unlucky not to win, are hungry to do well at the World Cup and if recent results from the sevens and Pacific Championships are anything to go by, (unlike other teams many players play for both national squads), England and South Africa are in for a shock.

The team that won the World Cup four years ago wasn't great but they were well drilled, well managed and when things went wrong they knew they could turn to Jonny Wilkinson  to keep the points ticking over. Jonny will be there again and, yes, he will pile the points on. But with many teams, including South Africa, improving their discipline, it will be hard going for Wilkinson to kick goals from 90 metres.

England will always have the ambition, that is for sure. But this time round, they are several paces behind the rest of the main field. Technically Ashton is up there with Sir Clive Woodward, but indecision around key positions such as scrum-half, No.8 and inside centre will hinder their progression. Shaun Perry is good,  Peter Richards is also good and Andy Gomarsall, well, he is OK. But England will miss the likes of Matt Dawson, who had the ability to lead his opposition into a false sense of security before delivering a decisive masterstroke. And with the likes of Neil Back and Martin Johnson having retired and no clear leader of the pack established, England will find it hard going. September 22, when England face the Samoans,  is likely to be the key date.

Dreams can come true  - England proved this in 2003 - and in a land of hope, we can all dream. But when was the last time your saw a flying monkey? I fear England will be desperately clicking their heels together to get back home after the group stages.