Only Barkley is up to the mark

Normally, watching England, I have a rough idea what they are trying to do, even when they are playing badly.

But against the United States I can honestly say I didn't have a clue what the game plan was.

No one seemed to know what the guy next to him was doing. There was no cohesion, the decision-making was terrible, the lineout was a shambles, there were far too many basic errors and the players looked tired and leaden-footed.

The management should just throw the tape of that match in the bin. Then it is up to the senior players to remind the rest of the squad of the bottom line — that they won the game 28-10 and they're still in the tournament.

Where do you start?

England's forwards were expected to dominate but that didn't happen.

They were not quite in full Test match mode in the way they went into contact. Seeing Lawrence Dallaglio being picked up and dumped on his backside more than once set the alarm bells ringing.

Lawrence has something to offer, but as a replacement. He should come off the bench as someone who can analyse how the game has gone and interpret what the coach wants from the team.

If he starts, he is too preoccupied with his own game because he is not as quick, powerful or strong in the tackle as he used to be.

I cannot see how England are going to benefit by playing him from the start. I was bemused by the selection last week and Lawrence will know that he didn't play well.

Nick Easter is a confrontational player and, although he doesn't have Lawrence's experience, he is quick and strong off the base of the scrum and a decent cover tackler.

South Africa's back row is on top form so Easter has to start against the Springboks on Friday with Dallaglio primed to come off the bench.

I found it bizarre on Saturday that England weren't prepared to play the power game and grind it out, just like Australia did against Japan. They should have set out thinking: "Let's drive the lineout, maul it a lot and tire them out."

Senior players like Mark Regan and Lawrence are in the team for their experience, so that when things aren't going well they get together and agree on a fall-back plan. But that didn't happen on Saturday.

The lack of attacking fluency in the back line was a real concern and was actually summed up by the first try. It was started by an individual break from Josh Lewsey and they had a six-on-two overlap out on the left.

But Mike Catt took all the risk out of scoring the try by kicking it to Jason Robinson on the wing.

It was great skill but it was as if he was saying: "I'm not going to risk passing the ball."

The way they've been playing, there is not enough confidence to just pass the ball out wide at pace, bang, bang, bang, then cut in and finish.

England's backs were crabbing across the field too often and no one was hitting the line at pace and cutting through. Robinson, Cueto and Lewsey simply weren't involved enough.

They were working off slow ball and four or five scoring chances against the U.S. is just not enough. In any criticism of England's performance, Olly Barkley has to be set apart.

He was in a different class from everyone else. He was athletic, strong, had vision, defended well and was precise with his touch kicks. He either made a break hard or distributed the ball, there was no indecision.

Even if Jonny Wilkinson was to make a sensational recovery in time for the South Africa game there is no way England can drop Barkley.

He must start at No 10 against the Springboks.

You have to take the names out of the equation, it is simply Player A or Player B. Reputation should not come into it. It has to be about form and Barkley is the man in form.

Catty played perfectly well on Saturday, so Jonny will just have to accept starting on the bench if he is fit.

There is no need for wholesale changes. Andrew Sheridan, Tom Rees and Ben Kay did well on Saturday, and the whole England pack can step up their game against the Springboks.

It is not a lost cause. If England play like they did on Saturday then they will lose by a considerable margin on Friday but that performance was way under par.

I still believe that at their best they can beat South Africa.