Olly Barkley should be used to it by now. His Test career, rightly or wrongly, has been one long succession of hastily inserted notes in match programmes: "Due to unforeseen circumstances the role of fly-half will not be played by the original cast member." When Jonny Wilkinson hit the deck on Tuesday morning, his understudy knew precisely what was coming.
If past experience is any guide, English supporters can relax before today's opening pool game against the United States. This is the man who, as a teenager, won his first cap against the Eagles in San Francisco before he had even played a senior club game. His first start came against Wales in 2004 when he impressed after replacing the injured Paul Grayson at 24 hours' notice. The same thing happened against France in Paris that year. And now this. Little wonder Barkley's dark, soulful eyes betrayed no hint of surprise this week.
In the absence of English rugby's limping crown prince, however, Barkley has suddenly become the player England can least afford to lose this evening. If he were to go down in a crumpled heap in the first five minutes, Mike Catt would be required to switch to No10 and Andy Farrell would assume the goalkicking duties. As even those gnarled campaigners would concede, that is scarcely a dream scenario just six days before England's pivotal Pool A game against South Africa.
This sense of unease is the price to be paid for omitting Toby Flood and Charlie Hodgson from the original 30-man squad in the sadly flawed belief that Wilkinson's wretched luck with injuries had changed for the better. Brian Ashton, the head coach, reiterated yesterday that no further public statement would be made on England's record points-scorer before Tuesday, doing little to raise hopes that a Lazarus-style recovery is in the offing. The probability is that England will do the headline writers a favour and bank on Barkley again.
The cult of personality dictates that Middle England's heart will sink at this prospect. Maybe it is time for a reality check. Wilkinson's form with ball in hand last time out against France in Marseille was, at best, mixed. His country has grown so used to playing without him since 2003 that Barkley, who has trained with the squad all summer, will be every bit as comfortable running the show as his colleague would have been.
The pair have even become good friends, the loneliness of the long-distance kicker strengthening their bond. "You're on the field for two hours after anyone else and end up eating alone because everyone else has already finished their dinner," sighs Barkley. "Then you end up being on your own in your room. It can be a lonely job and Jonny understands that."
The flip side is that Barkley has enjoyed a front-row seat at the master-kicker's daily tutorials. "Training with Jonny for the past six weeks has been great and I think I've improved as a result. He's helped me massively with my punting . . . watching him is a huge help in terms of technique, although I can't stay out as long as he does. I'd get stale if I did. I can do an hour or an hour and a half but Jonny tends to do anything up to two and a half hours."
Barkley, even so, exhibits several of the same perfectionist traits as Wilkinson, to the point where he contacted Ashton to discover exactly what he needed to do to fight his way back into Test contention. As recently as the last Six Nations Championship he appeared to have been leapfrogged by Flood and Shane Geraghty, both of whom caught the eye in the victory over France at Twickenham.
For a suspiciously long period Bath chose to employ him at inside-centre before Ashton returned to the club in January last year, prompting him to sign a new contract. Within months Ashton had rejoined England and Barkley felt it necessary to clarify his position in the pecking order. "I did email him to ask what he wanted from me as a player. He said he'd come and see me play against Gloucester. That was really all I needed . . . to know he was actually watching me."
If that makes the 25-year-old sound like an athlete with a sensitive side - he would have trained as a teacher had he not been a professional rugby player - it is not entirely borne out by his cuttings file. He was questioned over a late-night scrape and allegedly had altercation with a Sky TV producer at his former team-mate Matt Perry's wedding.
On the field he certainly tackles opponents with relish and his performance at fly-half for England Saxons against the NZ Maori this summer, allied to his impressive training- ground form, convinced Ashton he has the mental toughness to thrive under the circumstances which have now arisen.
It is no handicap, either, to be lining up this evening alongside his old Bath mentor Catt. The pair remain on the same wavelength - "We understand what each other wants" - and the continuation of a left-right kicking combination in midfield suits Ashton perfectly. All that remains is to ensure the occasion of his World Cup debut does not affect the former Plymouth Argyle triallist, whose superstitions include running out on to the pitch last and wearing the same lucky socks under his match pair.
"Let's be honest, playing rugby at this level is hard enough without the following factors: starting my first World Cup game, starting at No10 when most of my caps have been at centre and replacing Jonny. He sets standards that anyone who wears the jersey is always going to be compared with. I hope he is fit in time for the South Africa game. But I also want to make sure against the USA that I create a number of major headaches for the selectors." England will simply be praying he survives unscathed.
England v United States
Stade Félix-Bolleart, Lens 5pm, ITV1 Referee J Kaplan (South Africa)
15 M Cueto Sale
14 J Lewsey Wasps
13 J Noon Newcastle
12 M Catt London Irish
11 J Robinson unattached
10 O Barkley Bath
9 S Perry Bristol
1 A Sheridan Sale
2 M Regan Bristol
3 P Vickery Wasps, capt
4 S Shaw Wasps
5 B Kay Leicester
6 J Worsley Wasps
7 T Rees Wasps
8 L Dallaglio Wasps
Replacements G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), M Corry, L Moody (both Leicester), P Richards (London Irish), A Farrell (Saracens), M Tait (Newcastle). 15 C Wyles Belmont Shore
14 S Sika Beziers
13 P Emerick Dragons
12 V Esikia San Mateo
11 T Ngwenya Dallas
10 M Hercus Belmont, capt
9 C Erskine Waterloo
1 M MacDonald Leeds
2 O Lentz Maryland Exiles
3 C Osentowski Belmont
4 L Gross Doncaster
5 M Mangan Denver
6 L Stanfill UC Berkeley
7 T Clever OMBAC
8 H Bloomfield Belmont
Replacements B Burdette (NYAC), M Moeakiola (Park City Haggis), A Parker (Gentlemen of Aspen), I Basauri (Agen), M Petri, V Malifa (both Belmont), A Tuipolutu (San Mateo).
