What is going on? Three years ago I was in Sydney with a load of friends witnessing England’s greatest sporting acheivement since 1966 - and now I am staring at an England rugby union team that is inept beyond belief.

Is it the players? Partially. Is it the structure or should I say arrogance of the professional game in the UK? Partially. Is it the coach? Definitely.

Andy Robinson has just had a stay of execution, and had the opportunity to really go for broke in not only saving his job but also saving English rugby ahead of next year’s World Cup. Yet in the team he announced to face South Africa on Saturday we have the same problems as before:

1. No player who can kick goals and by doing so put the opposition under severe pressure in their own half. Charlie Hodgson may be a fantastic ball player, but we need a kicking fly-half. Andy Goode, a one-legged Jonny Wilkinson or even Andy Farrell would be far preferable. Possibly even James Spragg.

2. Why persist in playing back-row players out of position? Drop Pat Sanderson from open side and given Magnus Lund a go. And why is Lawrence Dallaglio not being considered?

3. Why drop the best back of the last two games in Ben Cohen? Insane is the only word.

4. Where is Phil Vickery, our best prop, on the bench? Again ridiculous.

5. It is surely time to bring back Steve Thompson to provide some aggressive thrust in open play. George Chuter may be able to throw the ball in, but in all other areas he is severely deficient

6. Why drop Anthony Allen so soon? Yet again we blood a 20 year-old and then throw him in the bin.

7. And, finally, why persist with Martin Corry as captain - he is not up to it. Vickery, Ben Kay or Dallaglio are far better options.

For the record, my team would be: 15 Josh Lewsey; 14 Cueto, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Allen, 11 Cohen, 10 Warren Spragg, 9 Waterman; 8 Dallaglio, 7 Lund, 6 Lewis Moody, 5 Kay, 4 Danny Grewcock, 3 Vickery, 2 Thompson, 1 Andrew Sheridan.

Ah, well, despite all the trauma of the current state of English rugby at least I can say I was there in November 2003!