The new man in charge has seen his plans hit by injuries, with flanker Richard Hill effectively ruled out for the whole season while he recovers from knee surgery. Hill’s fellow World Cup winner Steve Thompson is currently battling a rib problem.

Thompson will sit out Northampton’s opening Heineken Cup games against Glasgow and Llanelli, and there must be a major question mark over him recovering in time for the Canada clash on November 13.

Hooker is potentially a problem position for Robinson, given that Leicester’s George Chuter collected a six-week suspension last night after being cited for stamping in a Zurich Premiership game.

On a brighter note for England, their World Cup squad members Phil Vickery and Lewis Moody have both started their comebacks from long-term injuries.

Robinson underlined again today his determination to try to make rugby history by masterminding a successful World Cup defence in 2007.

“My main aim is for us to go as favourites to the 2007 World Cup and do what no other side has ever done, which is to retain the World Cup,” he added.

“But that is long term. Short term, it is about the three autumn Tests and the Six Nations. South Africa won the Tri-Nations, Australia beat us by 50 points in the last game we played against them and Canada are an emerging nation.

“In terms of the Six Nations, we finished third in it last time, so there are some points to prove. Will Greenwood said recently that he thinks we are fourth or fifth in the world at the moment. My job is to put us back on top of the world.”