And let there be no reference to mid-table respectability. A massive rugby country such as England can only see mid-table as humiliation, not respectable. Until they win a title, this team are still struggling.

Rob Andrew's assertions on Friday that England are definitely on track have struck not a single chord amongst England supporters; indeed, Andrew took such a honeyed view of the situation that many wondered aloud what games he has been watching.

He praised, in part, the conveyor belt of talent which he claims is rolling — forgetting that supporters in Paris this weekend care very little about the corresponding match in 2016.

He also applauded what he saw as the establishment of the core of the teams. Frankly, if the core means the captain, the fly-half, the forward platform and the leadership group, then the core is rotten. It would be an abrogation of responsibility at Twickenham if significant changes are not made to the management structure and the team.

It would be blissfully easy — and totally wrong — for England to carry on regardless through the Australia tour in June. Take the senior coaches — John Wells (forwards) Brian Smith (attack), Mike Ford (defence) and Jon Callard (kicking). England’s attempts to create a dominating pack in the last few years have been a betrayal of a powerful heritage. Their one serious attempt at driving a maul yesterday disintegrated abjectly after engaging reverse gear. Their kicking game is still in the wet-paper bag from which it cannot escape and the defence is more fallible now than for some time.

Lawrence Dallaglio, also in the Sunday Times, is in broad agreement with Jones, although they differ in the specifics: Dallaglio thinks Rob Andrew is the most culpable for England's failings.

Let me give you a glaring example of Andrew’s inability to make a difference. As a former international fly-half who wasn’t afraid to use his right boot, he knows the importance of a good kicking game. The England team that won the World Cup had an excellent kicking game and I’m not just talking about Jonny Wilkinson, but pretty much every player from 9 to 15. Everybody knew the reason for this: Dave Alred.

He is the best kicking coach in the world. I don’t know if it was the fact that he worked under Clive Woodward or the fact that his expertise doesn’t come cheaply, but the RFU got rid of Alred, saved themselves a few pounds but at a considerable cost.

When last did an England team have a good kicking game? Andrew worked with Alred and knows how good he is, so why didn’t he make Alred his first appointment?

This isn’t just personnel; it is also about England’s lack of an overall philosophy. Woodward talked endlessly about world-class standards producing world-class players; he got us to focus on being the number one team in rugby, not just in European rugby. He committed to providing us with the best facilities, but said he expected world-class standards in return. We would smile at some of the clever parallels he drew with the business world but we knew he was right and his dream became our dream.

Andrew appointed Johnson and said: “Okay, it’s yours now, baby, sink or swim.” I believe Johnson was a good choice but I am also convinced that he could have done with Woodward backing him up. Woodward is the man for the big picture, the guy who establishes a squad’s core values and gives them an overall purpose and the means to achieve it.

How can you properly progress if you don’t know where exactly you’re trying to go? For this overall failure, Andrew is responsible. If the environment is sub-standard, so, too, the performances will be. In terms of the day-to-day running of the team, Johnson has made mistakes. In terms of personality, background and rugby philosophy, he and John Wells are too alike. They are both excellent rugby men but when I see the lack of excitement, the absence of joy in England’s performance, I find myself thinking these wouldn’t be qualities high on the priority list of the old Leicester boys.