Tuesday 5 November 2019 13:43, UK
Jason Robinson believes that selection consistency is the key for England's success in the Rugby World Cup.
England kick of their 2015 campaign against Fiji on Friday at Twickenham and will be looking for maximum points to give them the edge in Pool A.
With Australia and Wales, along with Uruguay, also in their group, every point will count.
Stuart Lancaster has picked his strongest side for the opener - the same starting XV who beat Ireland 21-13 in their final warm-up game.
"Consistency is the key, and I think that is what Stuart Lancaster is trying to build," Robinson, who played in World Cup finals in both rugby league and union, told Sky Sports.
The stage is set and England need to go out and perform - the pressure is really on them to do well in their own backyard.
"I would have been happier if they were a little more settled in the backline though. There has been a lot of chopping and changing - especially in the centres.
"I know some of the changes made were down to injury, which cannot be helped, but the more games you play with each other the better it is.
"Now the first choice centres are Brad Barritt and Jonathan Joseph, who have only played together once.
"I would have liked to have seen the backline play a few more times together.
"You understand the guys around you, their strengths and their weaknesses. You work out how to complement each other and how players react when the you-know-what hits the fan."
Pressure
Robinson, who scored England's only try in their 2003 World Cup triumph in Australia, says that England also need to learn how to handle the pressure of a home World Cup.
"England have done all the hard work in training and now it is all about performance," he said. "The stage is set and they need to go out and perform - the pressure is really on them to do well in their own backyard.
"They have some massive challenges ahead with Australia and Wales. I also think with Fiji as well, I don't see them being a walkover, however they need a good win and build the confidence and the momentum."
Robinson admits that there are different ways to reach a final - after being demolished by New Zealand in the pool stages and losing to Tonga, who would have backed France to not only make the final in 2001, but to push New Zealand all the way?
"I have played in three World Cups and got to the final in all three," added Robinson.
"The two union ones in 2003 and 2007 were chalk and cheese. We had a settled team in 2003 and we had an unsettled team in 2007. So the best way to get to a final is consistency but it does not always work out that way.
"How we got to the final in 2007 was built on spirit and pulling together when our backs were against the wall and everyone was writing us off. And we were not that far off pulling it off either."
