So that'll be the panic button we heard going off with a loud click on Tuesday. When Andy Robinson axed six World Cup winners, including the excellent
Wasps full-back Josh Lewsey, the state of English rugby became starkly apparent.
Crisis. Chaos. Critical. Clumsy. Caboom. Any c-word you fancy really, but be careful if there are young children nearby. Catastrophic but not cool and cathartic, not like this.
Somehow Robbo has managed to ditch the reliable old guard and stick with his uncertain new boys.
Just 28 months ago, Lewsey, hooker Steve Thompson, prop Julian White, scrumhalf Matt Dawson, centre Mike Tindall and replacement lock Danny Grewcock were the toast of the rugby-speaking nations, extra-time winners of the 2003 World Cup in the final against the hosts in Australia.
Today, they're not good enough to make Robbo's side for the final Six Nations
clash against Triple-Crown-seeking Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.
With fly-half Charlie Hodgson injured, the chief coach has cleaned out nearly half of his side in the build-up to the biggest game of a career which has seen little go right after the opening win against Wales.
Last Friday's Daily Mail showed in graphic terms just how serious the post-World Cup decline has been. England only lost once in 11 games away in the build-up to Australia 2003, and that was in Marseille with a reserve team.
Since then, with Jonny Wilkinson perpetually injured and captain Martin Johnson and loose forwards Neil Back and Richard Hill missing, England have won just three times on the road, against teams like Scotland and Italy. They've lost more Six Nations game in the last three years than they did in the previous 10. Oh, and they've had Lawrence Dallaglio on the bench throughout this Six Nations.
I'd like to say Robbo is being brave, doing what Sir Alf Ramsey could never quite manage after the 1966 footballing triumph.
But Sir Alf actually managed to put out an even better side for Mexico and 1970 and only Gordon Banks's tummy bug ruined a successful defence (well that's my argument and I'm sticking to it, even though I was barely out of short trousers at the time).
This isn't sensible pruning of dead wood, it's a lumberjack gone mad with a chainsaw among the healthy oaks.
In case that doesn't make the point: For my money, Robbo has lost it here. He knows he needs a massive performance against the Irish, who could yet snatch the Six Nations trophy off the French if the Welsh produce a miracle.
But can not-quite-men like Bath hooker Lee Mears, Wasps' perpetual nearly-men Simon Shaw and Stuart Abbott, young Harry Ellis (who started the first three games without marked success) and Leicester club-mate Andy Goode, in as a club haf-back pairing, really work the magic?
I just can't see it, though I've always like Abbott.
And what's this on the bench, next to Dallaglio with his cushion? Ah! It's Newcastle's Dave Walder, the man who takes the No 10 jumper at Newcastle when Jonny can't come lately.
The biggest mistakes? Axing Lewsey, a veteran of 40 caps, played out of position frequently during this campign and nearly ever-present since the World Cup, for Voyce.
Okay he dropped that early up-and-under during the Strangle in Paris but hey, nobody's perfect. And how about switching Bath prop Matt Stevens to the other side of the scrum for White?
Oh, and they've had Lawrence Dallaglio on the bench throughout this Six Nations. Did I mention that? And can Mears really do better than Thommo at anything apart from line-out throwing? I don't think so.
Look, I could be wrong. I normally am. I thought Robbo would get it right this time, if only because Grand Slammers Wales were on the slide, Ireland are going backwards and France are jittery. It hasn't quite worked out that way. Sure, Wales had hit the old depths, Ireland aren't great and France are the best of a poor bunch. But England are right down there with the also-rans. Bring on Romania and Tanzania.
The axe had to swing. But for me the problems in this side remain. Jamie Noon isn't as dynamic as he thinks he is, constantly getting caught isolated when he tries to bluster his way through the centre of the opposition back line. The loose trio of Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody and skipper Martin Corry remains untouched though they were exposed against both Scotland and France. Oh, and they've had Lawrence Dallaglio on the bench throughout this Six Nations. I'm sure I mentioned that.
Still, 31-6 in Paris represented England's biggest Six Nations setback in 20 years. Perhaps radical surgery like this will do the trick. Let's hope so. For Robbo's sake. A big defeat here and somebody else is going to be in charge for the tour Down Under this summer.
My verdict? England 25, Ireland 30, but Wales will go down heavily against France who will take the Championship on points difference, with Scotland winning in Italy. Narrowly. That would leave England below the Scots. Did anyone predict that?
