This is going to be a busy time for England coaches and players. For once no one has been given any seasonal time off if only because Stuart Lancaster, England's interim coach, needs to see a lot of players playing.
Of course he's worked with many of the guys in his time with the Saxons. But this is different. Forget any idea that Lancaster will name his 32 unless he has given it the maximum of study and research. He may have the job only until England appoint a full-time coach, but if Lancaster has any ambition, which I'm sure he has, he'll want to be that man named by Twickenham after the Six Nations. So what better than winning the championship?
Doing it in style would say even more, especially if Lancaster shows he has been working with an eye on 2015. But that won't be the main concern; when it comes to picking a match-day 22 for 4 February at Murrayfield, he'll be picking a squad solely to beat Scotland on the day. With that in mind, I've looked for the 32 Lancaster may like. It's not the elite squad I would have picked, but I've tried to read his mind and at the same time tread the path between blending the experience needed to win a Test and the desire to move the team on. Add a few more names who may benefit from the experience of being around a Test squad and in an England environment, and these are the 32 he may have in mind.
Hookers
With Steve Thompson retired, I've added a couple of new names to the World Cup squad in David Paice, who has been around for a while but got stalled by injury, and Joe Gray, one of those swept along in Harlequins' season.
Props
Joe Marler, who plays alongside Gray, came close, especially for his work in open play, but in the end having props who can play either side of the scrum proved important, especially when you get only one prop on the replacements' bench. To Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole and Matt Stevens I've added loosehead Nick Wood to replace Andrew Sheridan and Paul Doran-Jones, recently Wood's partner at Gloucester, because of his ability, like Stevens, to play both sides.
Locks
The second row has caused a few headaches because, while it's easy to see an England engine room for 2015, getting there is another matter. I'd like to think Lancaster may make an exception to the England rule about not selecting guys who play abroad by picking Tom Palmer of Stade Français. He understands the lineout and can bring along players such as Dave Attwood. However, England need a middle jumper and, if it's not to be Palmer, the guy doing the best job in the Premiership is the former captain, Steve Borthwick. If that's too retro – and this is where trying to get into someone else's head is tricky – then Mouritz Botha and Courtney Lawes would certainly make a fine tackling partnership.
Back row
With Lewis Moody retired and James Haskell abroad the way seems clear for Chris Robshaw to make the step that eluded him for the World Cup. And he's come on since then. The problem is that England don't have an openside in the sense of a Sam Warburton, Richie McCaw, Thierry Dusautoir, Heinrich Brüssow or David Pocock, but I've seen Tom Wood and Robshaw do a job. I also like the all-round footballing skills of Gloucester's Luke Narraway, a No8 who makes those around him play. And remember, Lawes also plays No6.
Half-backs
Goodbye Jonny, hello Owen. In Owen Farrell England have a young man who already knows how to win matches and stays cool and precise when the pressure is on and the defence is in his face. His tackling is an asset as well and him being at fly-half means a more simple defensive pattern. Toby Flood keeps the shirt; he's one of those No10s it's hard to plan a defence against. But I think Lancaster may bring in Alex Goode of Saracens, who has considerable utility value. At scrum-half I see no compelling argument against sticking with Ben Youngs and Joe Simpson from the World Cup while adding Danny Care.
Centres
Had Anthony Allen of Leicester been fit, Lancaster might have been tempted to put him alongside Manu Tuilagi. However, he has the choice of Brad Barritt at inside-centre where Saracens like to play him, keeping the World Cup pairing with Mike Tindall, or adding a bit more adventure with Gloucester's Henry Trinder.
Full-backs and wings
My guess is that Lancaster will bring David Strettle back, especially as he knows how Andy Farrell likes to work his blitz defence. In fact, Strettle is one of the key reasons it works so well. Mike Brown returns to the mix as the form full-back but England will look to keep Delon Armitage on board for his ability to play full-back, outside-centre or wing.
It's not the squad I would have picked, but me second-guessing Lancaster. There is a core of experience and plenty of potential to come through for the next World Cup.
The likely 32 for 11 January
Hookers: Hartley (Northampton), Paice (London Irish), Gray (Harlequins). Props: Corbisiero (London Irish), Cole (Leicester), Stevens (Saracens), Wood (Gloucester), Doran-Jones (Northampton). Locks: Lawes (Northampton), Deacon (Leicester), Attwood (Bath), plus Palmer (Stade Français)/Borthwick/Botha (both Saracens). Back row: Easter (Harlequins), Croft (Leicester), Wood (Northampton), Robshaw (Harlequins), Narraway (Gloucester). Scrum-halves: Youngs (Leicester), Care (Harlequins), Simpson (Wasps).Fly-halves: Flood (Leicester), Farrell, Goode (both Saracens). Centres: M Tuilagi (Leicester), Tindall (Gloucester), Barritt (Saracens), Trinder (Gloucester).Full-backs and wings: Foden, Ashton (both Northampton), Armitage (London Irish), Strettle (Saracens), Brown (Harlequins).
