I just don't think England can do it with the centre combinations in the squad. That's where we're really weak for me. Not necessarily on paper, but as soon as you put it into practice.

Slade has nailed down 13 now. So if we assume he has that shirt to lose, the question is will Tuilagi stay fit? History would suggest no. If he does pick up a niggle or more serious knock then that's when the problems really start. Who else is tried and tested? Who brings the ballast and gain line breaking ability? And don't tell me it's Te'o - even though that's obviously what Eddie has in mind. The other option is moving Farrell to 12 and bringing Cips/Ford in at 10 - do that and suddenly your midfield has zero crash ball. Against less organised sides this might be fine and we can use all those distributers to get outside their outside centre and into wider channels, but once we're into later rounds of the knockout stages, having that guy who can run at shoulders and make a bust really is a point of difference I'd argue England need. And once again, don't even try and tell me Te'o is going to do that. If there is one guy in the squad who uses his size less productively than Te'o it's Dan Cole - but even that's a close call.

If Tuilagi and Slade/Joseph (who would also need to get back to international match fitness) stay fit, we should be okay. If Tuilagi creaks, we creak. Of course, it is too late now, but someone like Mark Atkinson should have been blooded ahead of Piers Francis.

Full back is another issue altogether. Of the 3 Quins guys left out, Brownie is the mistake for me.