Pool A:Today is a pivotal time in the context of England's World Cup aspirations. Friday night's pool clash with South Africa at the Stade de France will have long-term ramifications for the losers so its importance needs little elaboration
England coach Brian Ashton will be hoping for glad tidings on two counts following his team's lacklustre display in beating the USA 28-10 in Lens.
The first concerns outhalf Jonny Wilkinson, who missed the game with ankle-ligament damage. The prognosis has vacillated: we've heard on the one hand it's a tournament-ending injury and on the other that it will have healed in time for the Springboks clash. The medics will offer a definitive verdict ahead of today's team announcement.
The second worry for Ashton relates to his captain and tighthead prop, Phil Vickery, who was cited by the match commissioner Steven Hines for kicking/tripping the US centre Paul Emerick.
The hearing, chaired by Professor Lorne Crerar, will take place at the Place de Vendôme this afternoon and will be attended by Vickery and the squad's lawyer Richard Smith.
If the prop were banned, England would have 48 hours to appeal, and the understanding is a second hearing would take place prior to Friday's game.
Emerick will also be present, because he in turn has been cited for a "spear tackle" on the England outhalf Olly Barkley.
The English defensive coach Mike Ford said, "It's not been much of a grumble for us. We will name our side and by then we will know what has happened to Phil in terms of the judiciary. We have just got to get focused and get on with the job at hand."
Ford was joined at the top table in England's lavish Versailles base by Jason Robinson, whose pragmatism is refreshing ahead of the South African assignment.
"This is about the individual, doing what you need to do," he said. "We knew the challenge we faced before we came here and nothing has changed. Everybody's been looking at this game (South Africa) as the game.
"We have played one game and won it, not convincingly and not in the way we would have liked to have done, but we're moving on to the next match. I believe we can win, I believe we have the players to win.
"I've been saying for a long time, and it's not happened yet, that we need to play to our potential, be smart, tough up front and be . . . clinical. If we're not this week then we'll get beaten.
"We will certainly be going into this game with confidence. South Africa, although they are a good team and can punish you when you do make silly mistakes, they are beatable."
When asked to say why he was so confident England could beat the Springboks, Robinson replied, "Look at the record and what (certain) people have done throughout their careers. People have played in big games, people have performed in the big games - well there's no bigger game than this week.
"We can say all we want in these press conferences - talk the talk and say the right things at training - but what matters is the 80, 85, 90 minutes on Friday. It's time to stop the talking and bring out the performance.
"Playing at this level you have to make sure you make the right decision. You won't do it all the time but you can't have everyone making the wrong decisions. You can get away with it at certain times, against certain teams. If we were to make half the mistakes against South Africa that we did last week then we are certainly going to be punished.
"Nothing changes. You still have to get the basics right. You still have to think correctly under pressure. You still have to be physical. You still have to be accurate with your passing.
"Whoever you're playing, you have to get your mind right. Everyone expected us to beat America; no one expects us to win this week other than the guys that are within our squad. You're all sitting there and not one of you believes that we can win this game. I know there are 30 guys there and the management who truly believe in what we can do.
"I can sit here and say all the right words but it is all about Friday. Everybody's been waiting for this game. Let's bring it on. Let's get into it."
