The post-Martin Johnson era is likely to see the player he replaced as the England captain four years ago - Lawrence Dallaglio - take over from him for the Six Nations campaign and beyond.
Johnson, who is expected to announce the end of his 11-year, 84-cap international career after Leicester's Heineken Cup match with Ulster at Welford Road on Saturday, succeeded Dallaglio in 1999 after newspaper allegations were made about the latter and the England Rugby Football Union charged him with bringing the game into disrepute.
Though the Wasps' captain Dallaglio has not led England since, not even in the one match Johnson missed during the World Cup when the prop Phil Vickery took charge against Uruguay, he possesses a similar strength of character and mental toughness to Johnson which the England head coach Clive Woodward will be looking for.
Woodward has a number of choices with Dallaglio, Vickery, Neil Back, Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Dawson all given the captaincy by Woodward while Richard Hill led the side against the New Zealand Barbarians last month.
Vickery, Dawson and Wilkinson have been dogged by injury problems recently, Back is 35 on Friday, while Hill, who led the side last month after Vickery pulled out of the match with a rib complaint, admitted he was a reluctant captain and preferred being in the shadows.
Johnson's former international second row partner, Martin Bayfield, believes that another lock Ben Kay would be the logical choice to succeed his Leicester club-mate as captain with the long-term in mind.
Johnson, who is 34 in March, appears to have made up his mind to retire after Woodward said that only players who committed themselves to the summer tour of New Zealand and Australia would be considered for the Six Nations.
"I would like to think there would be some longevity in the England captaincy," said Bayfield, reflecting on the fact that Dallaglio is 32 in August and unlikely to be around for the 2007 World Cup.
"Ben Kay would make an excellent captain, having learned a lot from Johnson, and so would Phil Vickery.
The strength of the current England team is that it has changed little over the last four years, showing how important continuity is. I hope Clive looks to 2007."
Dallaglio has committed himself internationally for another two years with the Lions, who are set to be coached by Woodward, touring New Zealand in 2005 when the England captain is more than likely to lead the tourists against the All Blacks.
Meanwhile, Johnson refused to be drawn yesterday on the rumours surrounding his retirement.Speaking at a private fund-raising event, the England captain said: "All I have said is you will hear from me when you hear from me."
