Not since Scotland's footballers famously kicked off against non-existent opposition in 1996 has an outcome looked so certain. In Twickenham's corridors of power they talk earnestly about due process, but unless he turns up late today, reeking of rough Somerset cider, and aims punches at the entire selection panel, Andy Robinson can expect to become England's long-term head coach.
For those who prefer rugby analogies, Sir Clive Woodward's erstwhile lieutenant is effectively five metres out, ball under his arm, poised to scatter a static defence who long ago conceded the inevitable. Confirmation may not come instantly, given that the RFU management board is obliged to rubber-stamp its panel's verdict, but today is the day for Robinson to remove any lingering shred of doubt.
Precisely how he does so is up to him. As a one-time teacher, the 40-year-old former England flanker is not exactly a novice at standing up and explaining his ideas and will hardly be fazed by the RFU's insistence that he gives a presentation on where and how he sees England going between now and 2007.
A certain amount of confidence is justified simply because, as far as he knows, the RFU is not intending to interview anyone else. Neither is the panel - which includes his old Bath team-mate Simon Halliday and the Lions manager Bill Beaumont, who will be working alongside him in New Zealand next summer - likely to greet him coldly. But all five committee members will be listening carefully.
Therein lies Robinson's challenge: few doubt he is a good coach with a voracious appetite for hard work, but English rugby's top brass need to be reassured he has the clarity and vision to navigate a way through the minefield suddenly confronting the national team.
All concerned know that, a year on, the cosy sense of World Cup certainty no longer exists. Five defeats in their past six Tests, retirements, injuries and a fixture list apparently drawn up by the Marquis de Sade are all pressing concerns. If things go awry, South Africa and Australia will fancy winning at Twickenham and Ireland, France and Wales will lie in wait in the new year. Even with the injured Richard Hill it would have been tough; now Woodward's successor has a mountain to climb.
In every word he has uttered, however, Robinson's hunger for the job has been apparent and the RFU's performance director Chris Spice confirms he is the preferred choice. "The view of the panel is that Andy is the front runner. He was the coach of the World Cup-winning team and we want to hear what he's got to say. We've all met with him one-on-one in various guises but the panel now wants to see what his vision is for the next World Cup. All the issues will then be discussed and we will make our judgment after that."
So the ball, for a couple of hours this afternoon anyway, is in Robinson's court. England's backs have increasingly run into dead ends and, if the rumours are correct, he is keen to reclaim Brian Ashton from the national academy to encourage a renaissance in the arts of passing and creating space. Ashton's influence has been conspicuous by its absence since his abrupt departure from the senior England management team towards the end of the 2002 Six Nations, ostensibly for personal reasons, and it is reasonable to assume his name is on Robinson's wish-list.
With Jonny Wilkinson now installed as captain, he may also feel the need to reshuffle the management pack to lessen the off-field load on both head coach and fly-half. Woodward often seemed happiest in front of a live microphone but neither Robinson nor Wilkinson would weep if all press conferences were suddenly declared illegal and journalists were reduced to writing purely about the game.
Given that that is as likely as Wilkinson agreeing to pose nude in Men's Health magazine, Robinson needs a buffer; not the old-school blazer version but a no-nonsense manager of some description.
The highly respected Phil Larder might fit the bill, given that the most politically aware contenders - the Nigel Melvilles and Rob Andrews - are biding their time.
From the players' stand point, however, the priority is simply to get the new head coach sworn in as quickly as possible. Players dislike uncertainty the way ferrets distrust strangers, and Will Greenwood made no secret of his views yesterday. "Andy is a fantastic coach - full stop," said the Harlequins centre, describing Robinson as "a real rugby man's coach" with the full backing of the squad.
"He's got a very difficult act to follow in Clive but he has already been bringing his own ideas and tactics in. Only time will tell if they work but all the players who have worked with Andy give him their absolute support ... everyone believes he will be the top man for the job."
Unless, of course, the RFU is secretly intending to surround the team hotel in Bagshot with barbed wire, introduce a boot-camp regime and put the former Springbok coach Rudi Straeuli in charge.
Problems to solve
The World Cup hangover
Andy Robinson must decide whether proven World Cup winners such as Will Greenwood, Ben Cohen and Ben Kay are playing well enough to demand selection. And Jonny Wilkinson needs a good club game soon.
The injury list
Ideally Phil Vickery, Lewis Moody, Simon Shaw and Matt Dawson would all be fit, available and firing on all cylinders. But they are not and the physical Heineken Cup starts next week.
The fixture list
South Africa, who visit Twickenham next month, are reviving fast under their smart new coach Jake White and are also in England's 2007 World Cup pool. This season's Six Nations also contains several potential banana skins, with England facing awkward trips to Cardiff and Dublin.
English back play
There has been a gradual decline in attacking rhythm behind the scrum, not all of which can be blamed on individual players. England, as even Sir Clive Woodward acknowledged last month, need fresh ideas behind the scrum.
Office politics
With Woodward gone, does his successor follow the same managerial blueprint, or draft in someone else to help sweet-talk the media and oil the RFU committee-room wheels?
