In just three days England will begin their long journey through Europe to kick off their Six Nations campaign.
Steve Borthwick has named his 36-man squad and they will fly to Spain for their preparation camp on Wednesday, before heading straight to Dublin to take on Ireland.
Ange Postecoglou's book on attacking football has been on Borthwick's reading list and the coach is now hoping to discover his own brand of high-intensity rugby.
The decision has been made for Maro Itoje to lead the charge as captain, but Borthwick has plenty of other important decisions to make.
England coach Steve Borthwick has big decisions to make ahead of the Six Nations
THE BLACKSMITHS
Marcus Smith was England's standout player during a disappointing autumn campaign but has struggled to get the team off the mark.
With the World Cup more than two years away, now is the time to experiment with new combinations. England have a squad loaded with speed and the key is finding the space for them to run freely.
Fin Smith doesn't have as many dazzling moments as his namesake, but he is considered a more effective facilitator in bringing his teammates into the action.
He has a ready half-back combination with Northampton team-mate Alex Mitchell and deserves a chance in the number 10 shirt after leading his club to the 2024 Premiership title.
However, Marcus is too talented not to feature, so Borthwick would do well to find a double playmaker solution, with the Harlequins star wearing the number 15.
Marcus Smith was England's standout player in the autumn, but he failed to get the team firing.
Fin Smith has proven to be a more effective facilitator in bringing his teammates into the action.
FALSE EXTREME
The option of fielding Marcus Smith and Freddie Steward in the same back three has been openly discussed. Smith is a natural number 10, but can offer valuable second-play skills at full-back.
England know Ireland would try to trouble Smith under the high ball, so selecting Steward in the unknown winger position could offer close support to cover the backfield.
Deploying Smith deep in the backfield is a case of risk and reward. The suppression of 'guards' to protect the receiver has resulted in an increase in contestable kicks that could expose their defense, but also creates unstructured attacking opportunities where the two playmakers could take advantage.
Selecting Freddie Steward at winger could offer support if Marcus Smith is selected at depth
CHANGE OF WHORE
As Joe El-Abd tries to patch up the holes in England's defence, there is one statistic he cannot ignore. Luke Cowan-Dickie made a run of 52 tackles for Sale without missing a single one.
Having recovered from career-threatening surgery, Cowan-Dickie is delivering the brave and abrasive performances that earned him a call-up to Warren Gatland's Lions squad in 2021.
After stripping Jamie George of the captaincy, Cowan-Dickie now has the chance to make the number 2 shirt his own.
He is three years younger than George, making him a more suitable age profile to progress towards the 2027 World Cup.
Luke Cowan-Dickie has the chance to make the number 2 shirt his own in the England defense
Cowan-Dickie is a more suitable age than Jamie George, pictured, who has lost the captaincy
AN 80 MINUTE CAPTAIN
In his 88 caps for England, there are only two occasions on which Maro Itoje has been sent off before the final whistle. While Itoje doesn't have the same kind of interpersonal skills as George, he's an 80-minute animal who consistently delivers high-intensity performances.
One of the problems of George's tenure as England captain was that he was constantly substituted before the final quarter, which upset the balance of leadership. They subsequently lost a series of games at the bell.
The idea behind Itoje's appointment is that he will lead the team from start to finish, being the sole voice that liaises with the referee at all times.
Players such as Owen Farrell and Dylan Hartley saw their performances decline as England captains, but others, such as Courtney Lawes, rose to the challenge.
If George were benched, England could introduce valuable leadership skills to improve their performance in the final quarter.
New England captain Maro Itoje is an 80-minute animal and delivers high-intensity displays.
A NEW FACE AT NO8
There aren't many players in the English ranks who can boast of being in the best shape of their lives, but Tom Willis is an exception.
He dominates Saracens' games every week, beating more defenders and carrying the ball more than anyone else in the Premiership.
England have not had a specialist No 8 since they squeezed every last minute of Test rugby out of Billy Vunipola.
Willis doesn't offer the raw influence of Vunipola in the Pacific Islands, but is more suited to a high-tempo game plan.
Tom Willis is in the best form of his life at Saracens and will offer England a specialist No 8
BRING CHILDREN UNDER 20 YEARS OLD
Last year's Class of 2024 that won the Under-20 World Cup could become generational talents. It is crucial that Borthwick and the RFU find a way to foster their development, leading to exposure at a higher level.
Asher Opoku-Fordjour is first in line at prop, where England desperately need fresh blood as they move on from Joe Marler and Dan Cole. The 20-year-old made his debut during the autumn campaign and now has the opportunity to gain further exposure to Test rugby.
Back-row forward Henry Pollock is another top prospect who was not named in the Six Nations squad, but Borthwick will surely invite him to spend time in the camp to familiarize himself with the surroundings.