After Friday night's debacle England will not now defend their world title. Failure to adequately prepare after victory in 2003 has left the current national set up fatally holed beneath the water line – which is why drastic action is needed now.
As much as Brian Ashton is a likeable chap, indeed he remains a talented coach and should be kept within the England set-up at youth/academy level, it is time for something completely fresh.
The Premiership is currently strewn with ambitious and far-sighted young English coaches and at least one of them should be brought in to run the national side.
The leading candidates are Dean Richards, Dean Ryan, Richard Hill and Shaun Edwards – all of whom have the strength of personality to be No 1.
My choice would be Ryan. At Gloucester he has demonstrated the vision and courage to play inexperienced but promising youngsters in a constructive environment.
Yes his recruitment this summer has been about bringing in old heads but one should not forget it was Ryan who put his reputation on the line when he went to places like Leinster with Ryan Lamb, Anthony Allen, Mark Foster and Olly Morgan in his side.
They lost that particular game but England will be better for the experience they picked up facing Messrs O’Driscoll and D’Arcy.
England need to identify the 30 players they want to take forward to the 2011 World Cup, start picking them as soon as possible and get them playing to a modern style.
Ashton’s not the man for that, but he could be the man to develop them.