That strange whispering sound you hear is just Clive Woodward shuffling his pack.
Actually the England coach has dropped his entire pack, Phil Vickery, Steve Thompson and Trevor Woodman making way for record-breaking Jason Leonard, Mark Regan and Julian White for the game against Samoa on Sunday.
He’s made six changes in all, but insisted at England’s rather nice hotel in chilly Melbourne tonight: ”We have picked a team to beat Samoa. They have impressed me here.”
Veteran flanker Richard Hill remains hamstrung, his place this week taken by Joe Worsley rather than Lewis Moody.
Worsley says: ”If I didn’t think I was good enough, I wouldn’t be here.”
But the most interesting changes come in the back line where two South Africans have been called up just days after the momentous 25-6 win over the Brutal Boks.
Cape Town-born Stuart Abbott will make his World Cup debut at centre for Will Greenwood, who has gone home for a week to attend to his pregnant wife Caro.
Port Elizabeth born Mike Catt starts on the bench as Jonny Wilkinson’s understudy, leaving Paul Grayson out in the cold.
Jason Robinson switches to fullback for the axed Josh Lewsey with Iain Balshaw replacing Robinson on the wing.
Woodward says: ”A back three of Balshaw, Ben Cohen and Robinson is one of the stand-out back threes of this tournament.”
Just where does that leave the excellent Lewsey?
It’s Abbott who interests me.
Just two years ago, he was in and out of the Cape Stormers Super 12 team. Now, after less than two full seasons with Wasps, he’s playing for England in the World Cup.
I tracked down Abbott last night and (having lived in South Africa myself for 15 years) I had to ask him: did you grow up dreaming of pulling on the white jersey … or was it green?
Abbott, flanked by England media mismanager Richard Prescott, tap-danced around that one beautifully. In a very Capetonian aksent, sorry accent, he said: ”I didn’t mentally see myself in a jersey really, I just wanted to play international rugby.”
Hah! But surely he must be looking forward to an England vs South Africa final?
Straight bat once more: ”To be honest it doesn’t matter who we play. It’s still a long way off.”
Damn, they train these guys well. He continued right along the party line: ”It’s all about this weekend against Samoa. I’ve played against a couple of them and we’ve got Trevor Leota at Wasps. I know how hard he tackles, though he won’t be playing.
”At the moment it’s still early on I’m more excited than nervous. When the chance comes you’ve got to grab it with both hands. I’d love to play in every game.”
Hmm, one last despairing question … your father was at the Bok vs Pom game in Perth, who did he support?
”Dad? Obviously he was shouting for England, that’s who I play for now. ”
Game over.
England’s team for Samoa on Sunday at miserable Melbourne’s magnificent roofed Telstra Stadium, which should protect us from the elements: Robinson, Balshaw, Abbott, Tindall, Cohen, Wilkinson, Dawson, Leonard, Regan, White, Johnson, Kay, Worsley, Back, Dallaglio.
England should win by 25, but Wales probably felt that way before they lost to the South Sea islanders at home four years ago.