Sir Clive's bid to seize power on Johnno 'ticket'

Woodward's candidature, however, was rejected in favour of Rob Andrew. But Sir Clive's admiration for Johnson means he would almost certainly back any move to put the former captain in charge of restoring England to their position among the rugby superpowers.

Whether Johnson would have considered the time right 12 months ago nobody will ever know but there is little doubt about his readiness now in the light of the national team's continuing decline.

He will say nothing publicly on the subject for as long as England remain at the World Cup lest anything should distract them from the next piece of business, beating Samoa in Nantes tomorrow.

Close friends aware of Johnson's increasing concern over recent results have said it for him, setting off a bandwagon which promises to sweep him into power later this year in time for the Six Nations.

Woodward knows all about Johnson's formidable leadership, not least over the trauma of the one-day strike six years ago when the players downed tools in protest at the RFU dragging their feet over match fees amid threats that they would be sacked.

The relationship survived and while the pair have since gone their separate ways they share a common criticism of RFU chief executive Francis Baron.

Back on the pitch, one England player will today put the finishing touches to an improbable journey from a Camberley pub team to the World Cup. Andy Gomarsall, left in limbo last summer after Worcester cancelled his contract, turned out for the White Hart Marauders in the Harpenden pub sevens 13 months ago before Harlequins rescued him from the Premiership scrapheap.

A fortnight ago Gomarsall found himself third-choice scrum half just as he had been in Australia four years ago behind Matt Dawson and Kyran Bracken. With Shaun Perry paying for his expensive missed tackles against South Africa and Peter Richards on the bench, the 33-year-old Harlequin starts a World Cup tie for the first time since Uruguay in Brisbane in November 2003.

Tonga, England's opponents in their potentially decisive final Pool A match in Paris aweek today, have called up Viliami Vaki against South Africa in Lens tomorrow in place of Hale T Pole, suspended for a dangerous tackle against South Africa last week. Tonga beat United States in their opening game and have established themselves as genuine threats to England for second spot in the pool behind the in-form Springboks.