You really know the tents have been folded and the show is over when the ringmaster is on Midweek talking about his newest project. For those of you not on your way to training when the show goes out on Radio Four, Midweek is usually attended by those with something to "sell". The stars of upcoming television programmes are popular. Sir Clive Woodward, fresh from clearing the latest hurdle in his life, was on yesterday to talk about his book Winning.
The previous day he had been in Dublin assuring Ireland, Scotland and particularly Wales that, with the England job behind him, he was totally focused on making next summer's Lions tour to New Zealand a success. He could have saved himself the flight. Apparently the Celts were worried that Woodward had soured relations with people like me, the directors of club rugby or head coaches, when he gave his reasons for walking out on Twickenham last week. Instead they should have looked at the pluses.
Shorn of England responsibilities, Woodward can now concentrate totally on making sure the Lions are as well prepared for their opening game against Bay of Plenty as England were when opening their World Cup campaign against Georgia last October.
You can bet that the itinerary will be perfectly to Woodward's liking, the hotels spot on and travel arrangements orchestrated to cause the least disruption to the biggest Lions party ever to tour. He's already done the right thing by announcing there will be two separate coaching teams and, because he was a Lion himself, he will understand the unique nature of the visit.
Rightly Woodward says that after the World Cup running a Lions tour is the biggest job in UK and Irish rugby. Only once have they won in New Zealand - in 1971 under the former Guardian columnist Carwyn James. So it will be difficult. Against that there is always a tidal wave of goodwill wherever the Lions go. The Wallabies and Kiwis may stoke the fires when England visit but everyone is happy to see the Lions. When I was in New Zealand a Maori boys school adopted me and my room-mate, the Pontypool prop Staff Jones.
But most importantly this tour should be free of the accusations of favouritism which always accompany - and often with good reason - the announcement of the tour party and later the Test selections. Woodward is now free to watch Scotland, Ireland and Wales play even when fixtures clash with England's.
He will also be free to bury the general assumption that England players will dominate because, based on current form, I can see him looking elsewhere for at least one in the front row, two in the second row, two in the back row and both centres.
Which brings us nicely to the second show in town this week - Andy Robinson hitting centre stage for the first time at an England press conference. I am a little confused about the timetable for naming Woodward's successor but Robinson is to be in charge for at least the three autumn internationals against Canada, South Africa and Australia and that, presumably, will colour Twickenham's decision as to whether he is the man to take the team through to the 2007 World Cup.
He started by making all the right noises, admitting that England "had become very narrow in our focus" and that "I have played a part in creating this narrowness". He promised change: "Of the last six games we've lost five, so we have to do something different. I want to take the shackles off, in terms of burden and expectation."
No one should underestimate Robinson. As a player and a coach his passion is right there on his sleeve. He hates losing. But he knows he has the most difficult job, in sport or industry, and that is managing change. He has to re-invent himself and he knows it.
"If I come across as having that burden I don't think we'll be successful," he said. "I want to enjoy this. If you're going to get the best out of me I've got to be enjoying it and I want to enthuse the coaching team and the players." Spot on.
Another promise was to "build bridges" with the clubs. "You don't create relationships by not talking to people." Dead right but in seven years at Wasps and Gloucester I can't recall a member of the England coaching staff coming to see how we do things.
