He repaired the damage of the World Cup, he blooded a new generation of players, and he won four matches out of five. It has proved a convincing audition.

We will learn more about Lancaster's backroom staff in the coming days, but we know that he wants to retain the assistants that worked with him in the Six Nations Championship. Graham Rowntree is a stone-cold certainty as forwards coach.

My information is that Andy Farrell can be persuaded to join England on a permanent basis too, though he will need to secure a release from his contract at Saracens.

Lancaster (centre) celebrates the win over Ireland with Brad Barritt and Tom Croft

The chief executive of the Rugby Football Union, Ian Ritchie has made a bold appointment. He had the option of choosing a big-hitter.

The former South Africa coaches Nick Mallett and Jake White, and the former Italy and Japan coach John Kirwan were all considered, amongst others.

White won the World Cup in 2007. At one stage Mallett won 17 tests in a row with the Springboks. Any one of these men would have been the more conservative choice.

For all his work with Leeds and the England Saxons, Lancaster has just five senior international matches on his CV. Andy Farrell is in his infancy in coaching terms.

Graham Rowntree is the most experienced of the three. He has five years with England, two World Cups and a British Lions tour behind him.

So Ritchie's decision signifies a leap of faith. The man so recently installed at the helm of English rugby has clearly seen enough to put total trust in Lancaster.

The atmosphere at Twickenham recently tells you that England rugby fans will support the appointment, and hope that the new man can build on the excellent foundations that he has laid. Winning the World Cup of 2015 is the target, and nothing less.

The critical part is what happens next. Lancaster has weathered the storm of the Six Nations Championship, and emerged with credit.

England were not a million miles from achieving the most unlikely of Grand Slams. The wonderful Welsh resolve, and a slice of magic by Scott Williams put paid to their hopes at Twickenham.

No one should be under any illusions that the next few months will be extremely difficult for Stuart Lancaster. England play three Tests in South Africa in June. He will need no reminding of the enormous challenge of beating the Springboks on home turf.

Three years ago, the best in the British Isles were assembled for a similar mission, and even they fell short. The Lions were beaten 2-1 in a titanic series of fabulous rugby and bruising attrition.

In November, England host the "big three" from the southern hemisphere, along with Fiji. The forthcoming fixture list is unforgiving. In a worst case scenario, England might win one from the next seven matches.

Perhaps they will win them all, but I would suggest that the former is a good deal more likely than the latter.

So the honeymoon is over for Stuart Lancaster. Right now he has the overwhelming backing of his players, the fans, and the senior management.

The emotion of his success in Edinburgh, Rome and Paris is still flowing through collective veins, and the demolition job on the Irish scrum at Twickenham was a forceful reminder of English capabilities.

How will he fare when the results are against England? Will he have the strength of personality to stick to his task, to make the necessary selection calls, and to deal with a vociferous media?

Will he be able to conjure an incisive attacking threat from his back division, to complement their obvious defensive qualities? The landscape might look very different at the end of November, and it will take all his resilience to prosper.

England supporters must be patient. Lancaster's team is an embryonic one. They are extremely unlikely to be transformed into world-beaters overnight. They will lose matches.

They will also learn hard lessons and grow as a result. In players like Ben Youngs (aged 22, with 22 caps), Owen Farrell (aged 20, 5 caps) and Manu Tuilagi (aged 20, 10 caps) he has some potentially world-class talent available to him.

There is a layer of experience above them too - players such as Tom Croft, Dan Cole and Ben Foden, who are all in their mid-twenties and approaching the 30 cap mark. The coach has three years to bring his group to fruition.

Lancaster is an honest, straightforward, passionate man who has shown all the attributes necessary for long-term success. We wish him well.

At its most basic, the search is about finding the right man for a very important job. But we all know that the appointment is not as straightforward as that.

Let’s look at the candidates, or at least those we know to be on the shortlist. There is the interim head coach Stuart Lancaster, former South Africa, Italy and Stade Francais coach Nick Mallett and Jake White, the man who led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007. 

Jake White led South Africa to World Cup glory in 2007. Photo: Getty

Lancaster is in the midst of an extended audition. Put in charge for the Six Nations, he knows the job could well be a temporary one.

At the very worst, he returns to his former position with the RFU, in charge of the England Saxons and Elite Player Development.

By common consent, Lancaster has instilled a sense of responsibility in his squad that perhaps was lacking under the previous regime.

The negativity that followed the World Cup seems to have gone, too.

Lancaster has brought in new blood and has the respect of those around him. So far, it appears he has done little wrong.

What about the results? He has two wins and a defeat from three matches so far. The victories over Scotland and Italy were achieved away from home, both in filthy conditions and both gutsy - if not expansive and flamboyant - in style.

As for the defeat to Wales, it was narrow, with England displaying considerably more attacking intent at Twickenham than at Murrayfield and the Stadio Olimpico.

Mallett is an Englishman who played for and coached South Africa. Despite his English ancestry and Oxford education, he would probably be perceived as a “foreign” appointment. It matters to some.

As for his credentials, he coached the Springboks between 1997 and 2000, during which time they enjoyed a record 17 consecutive victories and reached the World Cup semi-finals in 1999. Mallett then moved to France, where he took Stade Francais to two domestic titles.

His next international job was with Italy, a four-year spell that came to an end when they were knocked out in the group stages of last year’s World Cup. During his time with the Azzurri, they beat Scotland, Argentina and, most memorably, France during last year’s Six Nations.

White, like Lancaster, is a teacher by trade. After winning the Under-21 World Championship with South Africa, he repeated the trick in 2007 with the senior squad. He also masterminded their victory in the 2004 Tri-Nations.

Since lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy, White has concentrated on coaching other coaches. He is now eight months into a four-year contract with the Canberra-based Super 15 side Brumbies. Whatever the RFU’s decision, White has promised his club he will see out the current season, which finishes in August.

So who should the RFU choose? How do they begin to measure an international rookie like Lancaster against the heavyweight CVs of Mallett and White? And when do they make the appointment?

Ritchie said last week a decision might be taken before the end of the Six Nations. He has since revised that statement, suggesting no appointment will be made until the championship is complete.

Having initially told Lancaster he would have the full five games to prove his worth, it only seems fair to make good on that promise.

Ritchie also mentioned he wants someone in place for the tour to South Africa this June, although he would be prepared to wait for the right man.

There are a number of thorny issues for the RFU to deal with. Firstly, if it appoints someone other than Lancaster, the rebuilding work must start again. A new man would want to establish his own culture, his own style, probably with his own coaches and his own players.

The RFU is unlikely to foist a coaching team on the likes of Mallett and White, in the way they did with Johnson. Yet if the RFU chooses Lancaster, it is opting for another man with limited experience of coaching at the very top, just like Johnson.

Does it really want Lancaster in charge during arguably the most important period in its history, with the World Cup due to take place on these shores in 2015?

Perhaps the RFU would feel happier with a seasoned hand on the tiller, someone who knows instinctively how to handle the unique pressures and scrutiny of international rugby? Supporters of Mallett and White maintain that their men fall into this category.

The questions facing the RFU are numerous. Each candidate has qualities. Each would like the job. Who should the RFU go for?

The new coaching team of Stuart Lancaster, Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell need to focus on the next World Cup in 2015 and finding the next Jonny Wilkinson. The search will not be easy. Wilkinson is a once-in-a-generation player.

He will forever be remembered for the drop goal - off his wrong foot - that brought England their first World Cup that famous November night in Sydney 2003. But he offered his country so much more than just a great kicking game.

Wilkinson practised and practised to master his craft. Photo: Getty

At his peak, not only was he the outstanding goalkicker of his generation, but he was the best distributor of the ball in world rugby, his offensive tackling was outstanding for a fly-half and he was blessed with the calmest of temperaments.

When England were playing their best rugby in the build-up to the 2003 World Cup, Wilkinson was playing his best rugby. It was no coincidence.

From an early age, he had been earmarked as something special and he was different to the rest of the young thrusters of his era.

From his earliest days as a rugby professional, Wilkinson stretched the boundaries of dedication to new levels. His lengthy kicking practices are legendary. No-one put more time in to perfect their craft. No-one showed the intense motivation he showed.

The dark, windswept expanses of Kingston Park in Newcastle provided the young number 10 with his playground. Or his torture chamber, depending on which way you look at it.

If kicking a rugby ball was what Wilkinson was born to do, then he turned himself into a mightily impressive all-round international fly-half. His passing was outstanding and his defence was worthy of the highest class of flanker.

Cast your mind back a few years to when his shoulder was in full working order and he was scything players down in midfield with a well-timed hit.

I will never forget one particular moment at the Stade de France in the Six Nations when the rangy Emile N'Tamack was weaving a path through heavy traffic and beginning to gain some serious momentum. Wilkinson appeared from nowhere and, with a momentum and timing all of his own, cut the winger in half.

You could hear the whole stadium wince at the impact. You expect this from muscle-bound back rowers. It was far from normal to see it from a fly-half.

His bravery and relish in defence caused problems, of course. Matt Dawson, a World Cup-winning team-mate of Wilkinson's and a BBC Radio 5live commentary colleague, was forever shouting at him to get out of rucks and concentrate on standing at first receiver, ready to dictate the next play.

Wilkinson's willingness to put his body on the line certainly caused him problems, as numerous "stinger" injuries and worse afflicted him over the years. Similar to the ever-reckless Lewis Moody, Wilkinson had little regard for his own safety.

Wilkinson's debilitating injuries also defined him. Or rather, the manner in which he set about denying the toll on his limbs defined him. He repeatedly refused to allow his ailing shoulders, neck, knees or groin to get him down and count him out.

In the period immediately after the 2003 World Cup, he suffered more than most players might expect in an entire career. Yet back he came, displaying astonishing resilience time after time, reclaiming the English number 10 shirt on each separate occasion.

Wilkinson lies injured during the 2003 World Cup semi-final against France. Photo: Getty

In the eulogies that follow his international retirement - and this is another - his failings will be largely overlooked. He was not perfect, though he constantly sought perfection.

Wilkinson was never lightning quick, never a player to strike fear into the opposition defence on the gain line. His running was characterised by a scuttling, stuttering style. Occasionally he would jink his way in and out of tackles, but his remarkable talents lay largely elsewhere.

Those who played with him a lot at international level will tell you that his game management was not his chief strength either. This may surprise a few, but Wilkinson was the executor of the strategy, not the mastermind.

His best rugby came alongside those with the vision and communication skills to direct him - the likes of Dawson, Will Greenwood and Mike Catt. They were his eyes and ears. More often than not, he implemented what they suggested. It proved a priceless ability.

Across the entirety of his 91 caps and 1,179 points for England, the additional 67 for the British and Irish Lions, the Grand Slam and the four World Cups, Wilkinson has been the most committed and humble of international sporting stars.

He was - and will remain, for his French club Toulon - all about preparation and dedication; the very epitome of professionalism.

As a role model, he is second to none. He is an extraordinary man with an extraordinary talent who gave a nation their happiest rugby moment. For many, it remains their happiest rugby memory. There is sadness in knowing that such a special performer will never again grace the grandest of stages.

Levity has been in short supply at the Rugby Football Union recently. So too, integrity and straight talking - which made Stuart Lancaster's arrival at the top table all the more significant. England's new interim head coach was courteous, engaging, passionate and organised.

He came across as highly motivated, and fully across his brief. Time - and results - will reveal whether he is up to the job.

Lancaster has been parachuted into the role to breathe life back into English rugby. He spoke of the need to select players not only of talent, but of character; of the need "to be the best, and beat the best". He talked tough on discipline. "Behaviour shapes performance," he said.

Stuart Lancaster (centre) poses with coaching staff Andy Farrell (right) and Graham Rowntree (left). Photo: Getty  

The message was clear. He will not stand for the kind of indiscretions that sullied the recent World Cup campaign in New Zealand.

The new head man reiterated time and again the need to get the culture right, to bring pride back to the Red Rose, and to play a brand of rugby that will thrill and entertain.

He spoke warmly of his "dream team" of fellow coaches, Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell.

Perhaps most significantly, each of the coaching trio echoed a philosophy of building towards the next World Cup in 2015.

The "one game at a time" mantra will be abandoned, in search of a trusted band of brothers and a recognised game plan for the next four years.

All of which is admirable and sensible. Actually making it happen will prove the difficult bit - Martin Johnson will testify to that.

Lancaster and his cohorts will have quite a job in helping the players to draw a line under the damaging events in New Zealand, and indeed the subsequent fall-out from the leaked reports. The episode has left scars that will take some time to heal.

So is Stuart Lancaster the right man for the job? He seems to be a good man for this particular job. In all likelihood, he will make way for a bigger hitter in the summer.

Nick Mallett and Wayne Smith are at the top of the RFU's most wanted list, and they will almost certainly demand their own men around them. Perhaps the permanent job might come with a proviso that the head coach must hire an Englishman (or several).

That remains to be seen. Most experienced international coaches would insist on choosing their own backroom staff.

There are a number of factors weighing in Lancaster's favour. A fresh sheet of paper is one of them.

He can choose his own players, mould his own leadership group, adapt a style all of his own. He is not beholden to the previous regime, nor indeed the future one.

He has an unrivalled knowledge of the youngsters in the English system, having coached them through the Academy and the Saxons set-up.

He is well-liked, and appears to have the respect of the players. You sense the English rugby public will give him a fair hearing too.

For Lancaster, the situation is win-win. Any success he enjoys will be seen as something of a bonus, given the circumstances.

He has a huge number of excellent players to choose from. He can enhance his longer-term prospects enormously over the next few months.

In his own mind, he will no doubt be determined to make it as hard as he can for the bosses at Twickenham to push him to one side, once the Six Nations Championship is over. And so he should. They all should.

Lancaster's critics will rightly point to a lack of top-level experience and international clout.

He was director of rugby at Leeds, where he dragged the club back to the top flight after relegation, only to oversee their subsequent fall through the trapdoor the following season.

His time with the Saxons and England age-groups has been nothing but successful, but arguably with the resources - both playing and financial - there would be no excuse for failure. He is unproven in the rarefied air of Test rugby.

The pressures, the quality of the opposition, and the scrutiny are in an altogether different league to anything he will have experienced.

Lancaster may fail. He might be exposed as a selector, and indeed as a rookie international head coach.

But there is every chance of a brighter future for England under this low-profile, former PE teacher.

As a passionate rugby man who has waited all his career for this opportunity, what is clear is that Stuart Lancaster will do everything in his powers to make a success of it. And that is all anyone could ask.

On Wednesday, he shuffled sadly out of Twickenham, weighed down by the burdens of management, apparently unclear about his motives for resigning.

Perhaps he was aware that if he did not jump, he would be pushed.

Certainly he knew his coaching staff would be changed, and that the Rugby Football Union hierarchy remained a jumbled confusion.

There was little support from the man sat by his side at Wednesday’s news conference, his former line manager Rob Andrew.

Martin Johnson resigns as England manager following a miserable World Cup which ended in quarter-final defeat by France and also featured a series of off-field controversies. PHOTO: PA

When asked if he would have backed Johnson had he wanted to stay, Andrew refused to answer, saying it was “a hypothetical situation”.

Johnson’s three-and-a-half years at the helm were the original mixed bag, as a win ratio of 55% suggests.

Originally appointed in April 2008, Johnson missed the summer tour of New Zealand because of the birth of his second child and selected the team from afar.

England were thumped twice and the tour was notable mainly for the serious (and entirely baseless) allegations of rape against four players.

When he did take over properly, his side were on the end of three hammerings from the southern hemisphere nations at Twickenham.

They conceded a combined 102 points, scoring only 26 in reply. It was an inglorious start.

And there were disciplinary problems on the field for a long time under Johnson.

In the early days, his teams repeatedly gave away costly “soft” penalties, and while they showed spirit and resilience, they rarely offered much in the way of attacking rugby.

A couple of average Six Nations campaigns came and went and then, in the summer of 2010, there seemed to be a watershed moment for Johnson and his coaches.

England finally claimed a southern hemisphere scalp away from home, beating Australia 21-20 in Sydney, with tries from the young newcomers Ben Youngs and Chris Ashton.

The team repeated the dose against the Wallabies a few months later at Twickenham in one of the most fabulous displays the old place had ever seen.

The stands were rocked to their foundations as Ashton scored one of England’s greatest-ever tries, finishing a move that had begun on his own try line.

That proved Johnson’s best day as team manager. England went on to win the Six Nations, but the manner of their defeat by Ireland on the final day hinted at deep-rooted problems still to be fixed.

Their performances at the World Cup suggested that far from improving, the team had actually gone into reverse.

One of Johnson’s biggest failings was his overriding sense of loyalty.

This is normally an admirable quality, but it ended up clouding Johnson’s judgement.

For two years, Steve Borthwick was his England captain, even though his form and leadership qualities were questionable.

Johnson became entrenched in his stance on Borthwick until a knee injury allowed him to quietly drop the Saracens lock altogether.

His loyalty to the “old guard” of 2003 also created problems. The most obvious example was his selection of Jonny Wilkinson as the starting fly-half for the World Cup, when Toby Flood had been the number 10 for most of the preceding year.

With Flood directing traffic and standing close to the gain line, England at least offered some kind of threat in their back division. Wilkinson’s more conservative approach and fading form meant the attacking impetus was lost.

His very unusual failure to kick the goals compounded the problem. Yet Johnson was unmoved.

In the back division, power was preferred to subtlety at every turn.

Johnson picked the one-dimensional Ayoola Erinle at inside centre in November 2009.

Shontayne Hape seemed some way short of international quality, but Johnson persisted with him throughout the last year of his tenure until Manu Tuilagi burst on to the scene at the World Cup.

And despite the success of the likes of Richie McCaw, Sam Warburton and David Pocock, England chose to embark on their World Cup campaign without a traditional “fetching” open-side flanker.

In the credit column, Johnson did blood the likes of Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Youngs, Ashton and Ben Foden, yet many would argue they were all given their chance one season too late – and even then because of injuries to Johnson’s preferred choices.

Critically, Johnson failed to ensure that the culture and environment within the England camp was programmed for success.

Instead, ill-discipline crept in. The well-chronicled incidents involving Mike Tindall, Ashton, James Haskell and Tuilagi contributed to the manager’s downfall.

It was his job to provide the boundaries for the players and they let him down and there seemed to be little by way of a deterrent.

Andrew’s position is now also being called into question. The head of the RFU’s elite rugby department has now overseen the departures of Andy Robinson, Brian Ashton and Johnson.

He has failed to accept any accountability for the World Cup escapades and at Johnson’s final news conference at Twickenham, many onlookers found Andrew’s manner patronising and flippant, when explanations and clarity were surely the order of the day.

Andrew’s biggest success has been in negotiating the eight-year agreement reached between the clubs and the RFU, guaranteeing access to players for periods of international rugby.

With two separate reviews scrutinising his role, it may not be enough for him to keep his job though.

BBC PODCAST: Mark Pougatch reacts to Martin Johnson's departure as England Rugby Union head coach, featuring Nick Easter, Ben Kay, Matt Dawson and Brian Moore.

Perhaps the 33-year-old centre would not have been selected anyway. Still, it is a sorry way for a World Cup winner - seemingly - to bow out of international rugby.

Tindall has only himself to blame. A few drinks would have proved harmless but his infamous evening out in Queenstown during the first few days of the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand involved rather more than that.

The player's subsequent confusion in explaining his whereabouts did not help his cause, while England manager Martin Johnson was made to look foolish as he faced the media in the aftermath.

He was a senior figure, an experienced player, a captain. Call it naïvety, call it misguidedness, call it what you like - it landed the husband of Zara Phillips in big trouble.

There will be those who consider Tindall's £25,000 fine and exclusion from the England set-up heavy-handed. Some will argue the player has been made a scapegoat by the Rugby Football Union, desperate to make an authoritative statement after a poor World Cup and months of disarray in the boardroom.

Despite becoming England's most capped centre, Tindall has been cast aside. Photo: Getty

They had several options available to them, the most extreme of which was to send the player home. They could have issued a fine or they could have suspended him for a number of matches. They chose to do nothing at all.

The circumstances were different but winger James O'Connor found himself in trouble with Australian rugby authorities a few months ago after being guilty of oversleeping. He missed his country's World Cup squad announcement and an important photo shoot. His punishment?

He was dropped immediately by Australia head coach Robbie Deans and missed the Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand. "He's less likely to take that jersey for granted in the future," said Deans at the time.

It is hard to argue that Tindall's escapades contributed directly to England's disappointing World Cup campaign. Collectively, England were off the pace and lacking in imagination. When they realised the need to fire a few shots of their own, France had already booked their place in the semi-final.

Nevertheless, the Tindall incident that night in Queenstown seemed to set the tone for an ill-fated trip. For better or worse, the perception at large was that England had adopted the wrong attitude. It all went downhill from there.

Tindall has been a terrific player for England. He has won 75 caps for his country and, in his prime, was among the best centres in the world, possessing both pace and power. As his pace has waned, he has relied more on the power and his ferocious defensive qualities.

We should not forget that he was a key figure in England's World Cup-winning team of 2003.

Tindall will continue to play for Gloucester and has been named in the starting XV for their opening Heineken Cup match against Toulouse on Sunday. He will no doubt have more successful days on the rugby pitch but it is hard to shake the feeling of disappointment when such a talented, committed and proud Englishman departs the international stage in this manner.

Ignore the official statement about "spending more time with the family", and the reference to the end of his contract. Thomas was forced out by the Rugby Football Union 12-man management board of which he was a part. Without doubt, they were under huge pressure from the clubs to remove him at the earliest opportunity.

He will remain in place until 16 December, by which date a new chief executive will have been appointed. The current chief financial officer Stephen Brown will step in as the interim CEO, until the new person takes charge.

Thomas will also relinquish his other high profile roles, as the RFU representative on the International Rugby Board, the Six Nations Committee, and the board of European Rugby Cup.

Most significantly of all, he will lose his post as the chairman of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, to be held in England. Thomas had worked hard to secure the hosting rights for the RFU. It will be a bitter pill for him to swallow.

Chairman since 2005, Thomas had survived in his position in the past, but the axe finally came down on his head. Photo: Getty

He followed that with a breathtaking decision to threaten the RFU's chief disciplinary officer Judge Jeff Blackett with a defamation suit, following critical findings of his own role in the Steele episode.

Many believed that if Thomas had stayed in his post, it would have paralysed the RFU until well into the new year, at a time when they desperately need to be finding stability and direction. If the board had not demanded his departure, the clubs would have called a special general meeting, and forced through a vote of no confidence. He had survived two of them already.

Thomas was also the subject of an investigation to establish if he should face disrepute charges, following the Steele farce. England's poor World Cup campaign both on and off the field tarnished his reputation still further.

So what are the ramifications of his demise? The review into England coach Martin Johnson's three-and-a-half year tenure - a review that Thomas had personally commissioned from former international Fran Cotton - will now be scrapped. The proposal had attracted a number of vocal opponents. Cotton had already passed judgement on the Johnson regime in radio and television interviews, and the players were refusing to cooperate with it.

Now Rob Andrew's internal review will feed into the one done by the Professional Game Board (a body combining the RFU, the Premiership and Championship clubs, and the players' union, the PRA). It seems the findings of these two will form the basis of a decision to retain - or to dispense with - Martin Johnson and his coaching staff.

The RFU has also committed itself to another review - this one "an independent review to ensure the best performance systems are in place going towards RWC 2015". It will be convened after the conclusion of the Professional Game Board review. Its make-up and terms of reference will be confirmed at a later date.

So Johnson is no closer to knowing his fate as England manager, and neither are his coaching staff. But the overbearing figure of Thomas will be gone by Christmas.

And the landscape is different now.

Yet we are still no closer to knowing what is happening about the future of the England coaching set-up or the future of the hierarchy at the Rugby Football Union.

The RFU loves nothing better than a "robust review", even if it means pouring scorn on it once it is published. That's exactly what acting chief executive Martyn Thomas did after commissioning a report by Judge Jeff Blackett into the botched hiring and firing of former chief executive John Steele and the non-recruitment of a performance director (more on that later).

There are no less than six RFU reviews taking place at the moment. Three relate to rugby and three to discipline or standards of corporate governance.

He will be assisted by two independent experts in elite performance and another former England captain, Lawrence Dallaglio. The remit is to look at the entire three-and-a-half years of Martin Johnson's regime, to assess the England performances in that time, and look at the structure of the RFU rugby department.

Down and Out. England's defeat to France in the World Cup quarter-final wasn't the biggest talking point of the tour. Photo: Getty

There are those who feel strongly that Cotton cannot be objective in his findings, as he has already been critical of Johnson's tenure in radio and television interviews.

Rob Andrew is also conducting an "internal" review of the Rugby World Cup. As head of department (his official job title is, remarkably, unclear) he will look at the style of play, the success or failure of the coaching staff and the breakdown in player discipline during the tournament.

Andrew's findings will feed into a third review, done by the Professional Game Board. This features representatives of the Premiership and Championship clubs, and the RPA (the players' union). Their noses are out of joint, because before the World Cup they were told their review would be the primary vehicle to gauge the success of the campaign in New Zealand. Their role appears to have been usurped by Cotton's review.

And so to the non-rugby reviews. There are three. Andrew and the head of the RFU's legal department, Karena Vleck, are examining each individual disciplinary indiscretion by England players at the World Cup. They will establish if any of them have broken the terms of their elite player contract, or indeed broken the code of conduct established in the aftermath of England's "Tour of Shame" to New Zealand in 2008. If Andrew and Vleck consider it appropriate, offending players may be fined or even suspended from international rugby.

And Thomas himself is the subject of a review. Charles Flint QC is looking into whether Thomas, the acting CEO, should face charges of bringing the game into disrepute, following his reaction to a report by the RFU's chief disciplinary officer, Jeff Blackett. Thomas responded to criticism of him contained in the report by threatening the Judge Advocate General with a defamation suit. He has since tried to discredit the very report that he commissioned.

The QC will report to the RFU President Willie Wildash.

The sixth and final review relates to the governance of the RFU. In the wake of Steele's sacking, and under pressure from the Sports Minister Hugh Robertson, the governing body appointed the law firm Slaughter and May to investigate the manner in which they conduct their affairs. Senior partner Nigel Boardman is the man leading the review.

All of which leaves the average England supporter utterly baffled as to what happens next.

Will Martin Johnson be in charge when the Six Nations comes around in three months' time? The delay in decision-making from the top seems to suggest that Johnson will have every chance of continuing.

If he does, who will be amongst his coaching staff? There is no way that the current incumbents will stay in place, en masse. The forwards coach John Wells and the attack coach Brian Smith are the men most vulnerable. Defence coach Mike Ford and scrum coach Graham Rowntree may earn a stay of execution.

There are four years until England hosts the next Rugby World Cup. As one Premiership coach said to me recently: "You couldn't make this mess up. The RFU is the wealthiest Union in the world, England have the most players to choose from and the best resources available to them. And yet they have absolutely no idea what they're doing. It is a complete shambles."

In the meantime, the clock is ticking. Personalities are still clashing. And English rugby is suffering.

Now Sir Brian, he still cuts an imposing but friendly figure at 71. He is a bear of a man, his huge paws enveloping my own in a handshake.

His eyes have retreated a little with age but they are illuminated by a ready smile.

Sir Brian is a legend in New Zealand. As both a number eight and lock forward, he won 25 international caps for his country between 1964 and 1971. He was captain of the All Blacks for 18 of those Tests.

All Black's legend Sir Brian Lochore (left) is in deep conversation with New Zealand coach Graham Henry during a training session ahead of  the final against France. PHOTO: Getty

After his playing career ended, he coached his hometown club of Masterton before moving onto Wairarapa-Bush and, ultimately, the New Zealand national side.

The All Blacks were not the favourites to claim the inaugural World Cup in 1987. The build-up had been turbulent to say the least. They cancelled a tour of South Africa in 1985 owing to opposition to the apartheid regime.

An unofficial rebel group known as “The Cavaliers” travelled there in 1986 with 28 of the original touring squad of 30.

The game was still amateur at the time but, against that, it was suggested each of them had been paid handsomely.

Despite success in seven of their eight provincial matches, the tour was regarded as a failure, with the All Blacks winning just one of the four Test matches against the Springboks.

When they returned, The Cavaliers were suspended from playing for New Zealand for two months.  In their place the inexperienced “Baby Blacks” were selected.

The youngsters beat France at home and were then blended uncomfortably with the returning Cavaliers.

In their final Test matches before the World Cup, the All Blacks toured France. They won the first Test in Toulouse 19-7, then fell victim to Les Bleus 16-3, in what has become known as “The Battle of Nantes”.

Former number eight Buck Shelford has referred to it as the dirtiest game of rugby he ever encountered. He is well-placed to judge – his scrotum was ripped, he lost four teeth and was knocked out.

But Sir Brian remembers New Zealand’s disrupted preparation for the first Rugby World Cup as a catalyst for their success.

He said: “In a lot of ways, those were the best things that happened to us. The public were divided.
“Half of them were supporting the All Blacks, the other half hated rugby and hated the All Blacks because they had toured South Africa.

To give you an idea of the feeling out there, the guys would not walk down the street wearing a jersey with the silver fern on because they never knew when they would get abused or accosted.

“By the end of the World Cup, they were very happy to put that jersey on and walk down any street in New Zealand. That’s how the whole country changed in that period.”

The All Blacks adopted an open policy to garner support. Sir Brian added: “We had to go out and earn the respect of the New Zealand people.

We did that by the way we played in the early part of the tournament. We signed autographs, we talked to everyone. It was the way we conducted ourselves that changed things.”

Sir Brian also made the players live in family homes across the region where he resided. “The reason I did that, was to get the players out so they could ‘smell the flowers’,” he explained.

“They did things they would never normally do, helping out on the farms and that kind of thing. It was supposed to be a bit of a rest for them but the by-product was that everybody thought it was great to have these All Blacks staying with ordinary New Zealanders.

“Most of their hosts lived a long way from the main towns and their children were at boarding schools. They all got them back home from school and they tell great stories of having the All Blacks in their houses. They can still remember every hour of it. Many of the All Blacks can as well.”

The team that went on to win the World Cup featured a host of youthful players just beginning to make their name. To list them now is to reel off a collection of the greats of All Black rugby – John Kirwan, Sean Fitzpatrick, Grant Fox and John Gallagher to name but a few.

Sir Brian particularly remembers the selection of the open-side flanker Michael Jones. He said:  “I took a bit of a punt on Michael Jones, which worked out fairly well.

“I hadn’t actually seen a lot of him but John Hart had been coaching him for Auckland and he convinced us that Michael was as good as anyone out there. He was right.

“He was a real athlete – very young and very shy – but he had the goods. The game plan we decided upon suited him. We needed a link-man. We wanted to play a fast, expansive game. Because we wanted to go wide, the breakdown was vital – and Michael’s speed was key.”

Jones became a spectacular success on the international stage, not only helping New Zealand lift the Webb Ellis Cup but revolutionising the way a number seven should play.

His strength and power in the tight exchanges were immense but his ball-handling skills and speed in support broke new ground.

New Zealand beat Italy in the opening game, which will forever be remembered for John Kirwan’s miraculous weaving run to the try-line. Fiji and Argentina were dealt with subsequently in the pool stage.

The All Blacks hammered Scotland in the quarter-finals 30-3, pummelled Wales 49-6 in the semis, then had little difficulty in seeing off France 29-9 in the final.

Twenty-four years on, the World Cup of 2011 has produced the same semi-finalists – and the same two countries on opposite sides in Sunday’s final.

So does Sir Brian Lochore predict a similar result? “I think the All Blacks are in a good position,” is all the great man will say. “Anything can happen.”

Listen to more stories and interviews from the Rugby World Cup on BBC Radio 5 live Sport this Thursday. Matt Dawson presents the show, which runs from 2100 to 2230 BST.

The Wales team manager has a slightly crumpled forehead and a wry grin plays across his mouth, as he surveys the chaotic scene at their hotel in central Auckland.

The world’s press has gathered in one of the smaller conference rooms, waiting for any useful nugget of news ahead of arguably the biggest game in Wales’ history.

The World Cup semi-final against France is occupying every waking hour of his life. Men and women crane their necks over the phalanx of camera crews and journalists, searching for a view of the Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards.

“Look at that media scrum,” says Phillips, scratching his head. “It really is a completely different game now."

Phillips won 18 caps for Wales and went on the British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa in 1980

Phillips has become one of the integral figures within Welsh rugby. He has been the international team manager for the last nine years. In his playing days, he was a talented hooker, who was the recipient of a surprise call-up to the Welsh squad for the inaugural World Cup in 1987.

“I was taking my wife out for a meal in Cardiff on a Friday night, and the following day we were going on tour to Benidorm for a week," he recalled.

"We had five grand in the kitty and I was looking forward to it. Then I got a phone call, and I thought it was a wind-up. I hadn’t played for Wales for four or five years. Then all of a sudden the restaurant put me through to (coaching organiser) Ray Williams.

“Thumper, you’re on your way out here on Sunday,” he said. I retorted: “Ray, come on, I’m going to Benidorm.” And he continued: “Billy James’ knee has gone, we need you out here.”

Phillips added: "I had a family cleaning business, but that was no problem. It was a lifetime experience. Wales is a rugby country so you never had any problems getting time off for rugby. Communities looked after the players as well. They put fundraisers on, so the boys went away with a little bit of cash so they could support their families. So off I went.

“We went into the unknown in ’87. We flew economy. That’s changed! Actually it was an unfair tournament because the All Blacks were so well prepared, quite apart from having great rugby players all over the place, they were miles ahead of everybody physically. And when you look back, they won it easily. The game was amateur back then, but the New Zealanders were professional.”

Wales navigated their way through the pool stages without undue alarm. The opening 13-6 victory over Ireland was followed by a 29-16 win over Tonga, which featured a hat-trick of tries from Glen Webbe and a mass brawl which left Adrian Hadley out cold. Canada were despatched 40-9, with Jonathan Davies superb at fly half, and Ieuan Evans scoring four tries.

The quarter-final pitted Wales against England in Brisbane. Phillips remembers it as a terrible match. “The weather conditions were awful," he said. "On paper England were a better side than us, but we dragged them down to our level. It was ugly rugby at its best, but it was a win.” Tries from Gareth Roberts, Robert Jones and John Devereux saw the Welsh into the semi-final to play New Zealand.

After the win over England, the Wales squad were given two days off. In the days of amateurism, that meant one thing: beer, and lots of it. The smile returns to Phillips’ face. “We had a two day bender cut down to one," he grinned. "Bryan Robson of Manchester United was over there, and he joined us. He was playing some testimonial or something. It was the first time I came across him. A great bloke, a little man, but he could certainly put it away.

"He kept us up most of the night and into the following day. We were in great company, and it was like a special treat for us to be with him.

"When the management came down in the morning and saw the state of us, that was it – our two days off was cut down to one. And I think we had a five or six-mile run on the beach to sober everyone up, and that was that.”

The semi-final itself was a sobering experience for the Welsh. Shorn of their influential lock forward Bob Norster, they were hammered 49-6. “Losing Bob was bad, but it wouldn’t have made a difference,” insists Phillips.

“The New Zealand side were so much better than us, so much stronger, fitter. We always believed we had a chance – Welsh people are romantic, we like to dream. But I can tell you that dream was put to bed in the first 15 minutes of the match.”

The defeat left Wales with the dreaded third place play-off, against Australia in Rotorua. Apart from the stench of sulphur from the nearby steaming geysers, Phillips has a clear memory of the atmosphere there.

“It was the first time that I realised the Kiwis don’t like the Australians," he said. "Every time the Aussies got the ball, they were booed, and every time we had it, we were cheered.

"Truth be told, the Wallabies didn’t want to be there. They’d had their disappointment in losing a great semi-final to France, and they had to come all the way back from Australia to play us in Rotorua. On the other hand, we had been humiliated by the All Blacks and it was our chance to redeem ourselves.”

Roberts and Paul Moriarty scored tries that day for Wales, as did Matthew Burke and Paul Grigg for the Wallabies, but the drama lay in the dying seconds of the match, as Hadley crashed over in the corner for an injury time score, to put the Welsh within a point. The nerveless Paul Thorburn knocked over the conversion from the touchline to secure a famous 22-21 victory, and a third-placed finish at the World Cup.

Phillips maintains that he has not shared his memories of that experience 24 years ago with the present crop of Welsh superstars. “It would be inappropriate to look back to that,” he said. “We don’t reminisce. Last week in Wellington I introduced some of the young boys to Ian Kirkpatrick.

"Sam Warburton and Dan Lydiate weren’t being disrespectful, but they didn’t know who he was. I told them that he’d played 100 games for the All Blacks in a time when they played hardly any rugby. They went and looked him up, and came back to me later in the evening and said 'wow, he’s one of the best ever'.

“But young professionals these days aren’t that interested in history. They’re making their own history. This group here are starting to do that. They won’t understand the enormity of what they’ve done so far.

"To give you an idea, we were coming through the airport on Monday when we left Wellington, and they were given a standing ovation. And when we arrived here in Auckland, they were given a standing ovation there too.

"My eyes were welling up. I was so proud to see people respecting this group of players. But to them – well, they were just not fazed by it at all. Maybe after a week or two of being home, they’ll think 'that was a good trip, we did some good things out there'. At the moment they’re busy enjoying it all.

“It’s very special because we’ve already earned a lot of respect. When you hear some of the greats of New Zealand rugby commenting on how well we’re playing, and what we’re like off the field, it’s very satisfying.

"I don’t even think the people of Wales fully realise the respect these boys are earning. All the southern hemisphere sides are saying how good Warburton, [Jamie] Roberts, [George] North and [Mike] Phillips are. It’s fantastic.”

Thursday's BBC Radio 5 Live Rugby show will feature Gareth Thomas, Eddie Butler and Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards live from Auckland between 2100-2230 BST.

To give you some idea, the Welsh had completed 85 tackles at half time, compared to 46 by the Irishmen. Lock forward Luke Charteris had made 16 of those by himself, before withdrawing, injured, from the field of battle. 

Wales reached their first World Cup semi-finals in 24 years and on this evidence Sam Warbuton's side will fancy their chances of reaching a maiden World Cup final. PHOTO: Getty

Wales knew they had to withstand the Irish barrage, and the only way to do that was by throwing their bodies on the line repeatedly. Normally the defensive plaudits would head in the direction of the back row, and indeed they should this time, too. But the efforts of the entire team were staggering.

Who was underneath a pile of bodies preventing a try by Sean O’Brien after a quarter of an hour? It was probably the smallest man on the pitch, Shane Williams.

Not content with a scorching opening try to set the tone, the former World Player of the Year catapulted himself into harm’s way in order to preserve his side’s lead. It was a moment which epitomised the collective Welsh desire.

Edwards’ contribution was not simply to ensure the defensive structure was robust. He and Gatland have been working on a strategy for some weeks now. It involves a return to one of the fundaments of the game – tackling the opposition low down, to prevent any momentum.

“We were trying to take the Irish feet from under them straight away” said Gatland. “We looked at the Italian game last week, and Italy went too high against Ireland. Our focus was to go very low, and try to deny their ball-carriers any go-forward.”

 

Edwards is not a man to dish out praise in a hurry, but he was purring afterwards, saying: “The leg-tackling was of the highest order. We’ve spent a lot of time in the last few months trying to reinvent the art of leg-tackling. To do that you need players with technique and courage, and we definitely had that.”

 

Needless to say, all that defending saps the energy. Whilst the Irish laboured over their rucks, shovelled slow ball out to their ball-carriers and became more desperate with every passing second-half minute, the Welsh remained spring-heeled.

 

This is where the benefits of a painful trip to Poland bore fruit. The cryogenic chambers, the ice baths and the spartan conditions almost certainly offered little in the way of fun. But the benefits were on display inside the Cake Tin. Chips down, lungs bursting, Welshmen manned the barricades.

 

“Our defence was absolutely outstanding, and it shows what good shape the guys are in. They were getting excited about defending without the ball,” said Gatland.

 

Ireland will be distressed that they failed to rediscover the magic of their previous wins over Australia and Italy. The fury was missing, the penetration lacking, the accuracy gone.

 

For periods of the first half they had opportunities galore, possession galore, territory galore, but little to show in the way of a reward. Wales’ defence was magnificent, but a side packed with Grand Slam winners and Heineken Cup champions should have found a way through.

 

The two second-half tries they conceded were soft, from an Irish perspective. There was no-one home on the blindside for Mike Phillips' cheeky score, and Jonathan Davies was waved through the midfield by Cian Healy and Keith Earls. 

 

For many of this Ireland team, there will be no more World Cups. Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara, Gordon D’Arcy and Paul O’Connell will not be around for 2015. For such warriors of the Irish cause, it was a deeply disappointing way to end a campaign so full of promise after that victory over the Wallabies.

 

So the Welsh are left to fly the flag of the home unions into the remaining fortnight Down Under. They will fly it with pride, and a spirit of adventure. They are an overwhelmingly young group, cutting impressive figures here: driven, single-minded, fearless and friendly. In the interviews after the game I was struck by the calm responses from the players as they head towards a semi-final clash with England’s conquerors France.

 

There was a contentment, a satisfaction at a job well done, but no jubilation, no over-excitement. As their remarkably mature 23-year-old captain Warburton said, “we’ve won nothing yet”.

 

Indeed they haven’t, but a World Cup final place is now well within the Welsh grasp, and a fairytale ending is not out of the question. There were grown men clad from head-to-toe in red, leaping uncontrollably into each other’s arms as the final whistle blew in Wellington. If it all ends tomorrow, this Welsh team has already made a lot of people very happy.

 

 

This is a special group of players, achieving special things together. In the red of Munster and the blue of Leinster they have scaled the heights of European and domestic rugby. In the green of Ireland they won the Grand Slam in 2009. Now they have the World Cup itself in their sights.

Ireland arrived in New Zealand on the back of four defeats in a row. Expectations across the country were low. Inside the camp though, there was a residual determination, and a knowledge that they could turn their fortunes around.

Players like Ronan O'Gara, Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell will almost certainly not take part in the next World Cup. For them, this tournament represents their final opportunity to shine on the biggest stage of all. As O'Driscoll himself said in advance of the game against Australia "it's win or bust".

Ireland are flying high as they head into a quarter-final against Wales. Pic: Getty.

As the dust settles on the World Cup pool stages, Ireland are in cracking shape. They edged past a highly motivated USA team on the anniversary of 9/11. They put the celebrated Wallabies to the sword in the shock of the tournament. They destroyed the Russians, and now they have despatched the Italians.

"Where's their weakness?" asked the Italy coach Nick Mallett after watching his team being dismantled under the roof in Dunedin. "Ireland are more than capable of knocking out every side left in their half of the draw. Wales are playing very good rugby, they were close to beating South Africa.

"But my view is that this Irish side have targeted Australia, they have targeted us, and when they're playing like that, they're very hard to stop. I don't think any team would be confident of playing Ireland at the moment."

Ireland have that priceless commodity, momentum. They have a settled side, a happy camp, a clever coach and an inspirational captain. Their World Cup might be only just starting.

They had to graft their way through a tough opening 40 minutes against Italy. It was gritty, it was bad-tempered, it was absorbing. Ireland ground the Italians down, and then let loose after the interval.

The pack again dominated in the set-piece, and once Martin Castrogiovanni went off, the Italian scrum never recovered. The Azzurri posed a threat from their effective rolling maul, but their discipline let them down, and their precision was nothing like as sharp as it needed to be.

Once the platform was established, the Irish tries were always going to follow. Tommy Bowe made the initial incision, and Brian O'Driscoll completed the operation, running the perfect inside line to touch down.

Moments later Gordon D'Arcy burst through the midfield in a rare foray into space. Keith Earls was the beneficiary once the Italian defence had been sufficiently stretched. Earls' second came right at the death, just after Tommy Bowe had been disappointed by referee Jonathan Kaplan's decision not to award what would have been a sensational solo try, chasing his own kick.

Brian O'Driscoll paid tribute afterwards to the "sea of green" support which flooded Dunedin during the week, and washed over the Otago Stadium for the evening. "We have to give them something to cheer about, and it was exactly like Lansdowne Road or Croke Park. In fact, I've played in Dublin in the past when the support hasn't been as good as that. It was incredible out there. For us it was a case of win, or go home. We responded well to that."

One of the few low points from the Ireland perspective was the injury sustained by their hooker Rory Best. He was forced off the field with a shoulder problem, and the way in which he discarded his scrum cap in frustration as he sat down suggests it will not be an easy thing to shake off.

Ireland can ill-afford injuries to key men and hooker is an area of concern. Sean Cronin came off the bench, and will be in pole position to play in the quarter-final if Best doesn't make it. He is inexperienced. Damian Varley is even more callow, and is the current third choice. Jerry Flannery has already had to return home with injury. With a strong scrummaging Welsh outfit on the horizon, the hooker position will occupy Declan Kidney's mind.

There are sizeable ambitions to be found in this Ireland team. Full-back Rob Kearney is looking at the big picture. "This was a big day for Irish rugby in terms of our personalities and the team as a whole, and how we want to be perceived as a team. In terms of building a legacy, this was an important day. We are one of few teams to have won four from four. We want to create something very special, create our own history. There's a lot more to do."

Kearney's words chimed with those spoken by Donncha O'Callaghan before the match with Italy. "This is where we want to separate ourselves from other Irish sides", he said. It is a hefty statement, and could be misconstrued. It could be seen in an arrogant light; a dismissal of the achievements of others who have worn the green shirt before them. It is not remotely intended that way.

O'Callaghan's point, and indeed Kearney's, is that this Ireland side will not be satisfied with gallant defeats. They will not tolerate "a brave effort". Winning is what matters to these players, and to hear them talk in this cold, ruthless manner is striking.

Too often Ireland have been accepting of the underdog tag, accepting that they occasionally punch above their weight for a small island. No longer. This breed of players are demanding success, and they have the talent to pull it off.

Wales will provide a thorough examination of this new-found Irish confidence and belief. Warren Gatland's men have looked the real deal ever since they scared the living daylights out of South Africa in their opening match. Some of the rugby the Welsh produced in their demolition job on Fiji was sublime. In wet conditions, the handling, the accuracy and the pace of their game was hugely impressive.

These two Celtic nations have bubbled into form at precisely the right time. Something has to give. The quarter-final match has every possible ingredient for an epic. It is also worth remembering their controversial Six Nations match in Cardiff in March.

Wales scored a crucial try through Mike Phillips, after Matthew Rees had taken a quick line-out with the wrong ball. It grated at the time, and it has left an indelible scar on the Irishmen on duty that day. There will be no shortage of fireworks on Saturday in Wellington, as the two countries scrap for a place in the last four of a World Cup.

As Declan Kidney put it: "The players know each other very well. We know their game. They know our game. Space will be cut down. You can't keep anything for another day."

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Inevitably, the comments triggered articles in the Kiwi press featuring outraged Maori leaders, protective cultural figures and even a few disgruntled foreigners. But does De Villiers have a point?

For this week's Radio 5 live rugby programme, I spoke to a number of different people about the haka and its place in Maori culture and All Black history.

The haka can be seen as an act of intimidation before a rugby match. Photo: Getty

There are many different kinds of haka and the Maori use them for a variety of purposes. They use them to welcome people, to bid farewell to their dead, to celebrate success and to express collective pride.

The one haka recognised globally is the All Black haka: Ka Mate. This particular haka dates back over 200 years. A warrior chief named Te Raupahara composed it, having just escaped capture by a tribal rival. It was reflective of his relief and excitement at survival.

The words, "ka mate, ka mate, ka ora, ka ora" literally means "I die, I die, I live, I live." Te Raupahara became something of a heroic figure as a leader and a warrior and his haka was kept alive after his death.

The haka first became part of All Black operations in 1905 when it was adopted by "The Originals" - the first New Zealand side to tour overseas. It was performed not as a challenge in the sense we regard it now but more as pre-match entertainment.

When the All Blacks performed it in Cardiff in 1905, the Welsh responded by bursting into their anthem Land Of My Fathers.

The haka was only performed overseas until 1987. Before that it was a rather different visual experience to what we see before matches now.

Sir Wilson Whineray captained the All Blacks between 1957 and 1965. He told me it was very different then. He said: "It wasn't done very well in my day. We only had a couple of Maori boys in our side. Looking at the old footage, we just stood in the same spot and stamped our feet.

"It has evolved quite a bit and is certainly a lot more vigorous now. I look at that and think I would be exhausted at the end of it. But, wherever we went, people loved the haka. We were always asked to perform it."

The turning point in the history of the All Black haka was in the mid-1980s. Under the captaincy of Wayne 'Buck' Shelford, there was a drive to revitalise it and perform it on home soil.

Shelford said: "[All Black hooker] Hika Reid and I had a talk about it. We thought that, unless we had total buy-in from the players and management, we wouldn't do it. We did, so we thought, 'Right, let's practise it'. That was fun.

"Those pakeha [non-Maori] boys [were] stiff with no rhythm. They had to learn how to hang loose. We wondered how they were going to do the haka properly.

"With time and effort they got better. By 1987 they were pretty good at it and had learned and understood the origin of it - plus the meaning behind it. I'm proud we had the opportunity to give something back. I think it's great to advertise our culture before a game. I love to see the Kenyans doing a dance after their Sevens matches, for instance. The haka is real Kiwi, real New Zealand."

The French players (left) decided to step up and face the haka at the 2007 World Cup, just like the Irish did in 1989. Photo: Getty

Shelford was involved in one of the most memorable haka showdowns, at Lansdowne Road in 1989. The Ireland captain Willie Anderson linked arms with his team-mates and advanced on the All Blacks. He ended up nose-to-nose with Shelford.

Shelford added: "I thought it was fantastic. I spoke to Willie afterwards and he said, 'What did you think?'. I said, 'Good on you - what an awesome challenge. You responded like you meant it, some teams run away from it.'

"[Australia winger] David Campese used to run away and do his thing behind the goal-line. Some people say it's intimidating - but it's what you get out of it. The haka doesn't win us a game of rugby. Rugby wins rugby."

So what about the notion that the All Black haka is being overused, inappropriately performed, and even desecrated as an ancient ritual? Some Maori chiefs have been vocal, concerned it is losing its respect.

Recently, there have been numerous outbursts of hakas by groups of young Maori on the streets in Auckland. Some have attracted over a million viewings on the internet.
I went to see Tiki Edwards, a Maori who runs Haka World in Rotorua. It is not a theme park, merely a simple hut in a simple clearing, with two benches.

He said: "It can be intimidating, a mob of Maoris turning up unannounced. Maybe they're trying to display their culture, the ferocity of the haka?

"My view is that you should save it for when you need it most. Some of them probably need to concentrate on getting a job. But that's the way they are expressing themselves. If they are drawing on their ancestors, then fine."

"For me, it's about teaching the essence of haka. I teach lots of hakas but Ka Mate is the famous one. I teach them that I am calling on my ancestors to be with me when I need them most. I teach them where it comes from and why it's important. It's a spiritual thing and a physical thing."

Arguably rugby and the haka are the two most-recognisable faces of New Zealand. Most New Zealanders I have spoken to are content with the haka as it is - as long as there is an understanding of its origins, significance to Maoris, and a healthy respect for it.

In a rugby sense, the haka still represents a laying down of the gauntlet and challenge to the opposition. It is also great drama and entertainment and there is no doubt the theatrical side of things has been exploited in recent years.

This argument is particularly relevant when discussing the newer Kapo O Pango haka adopted by the New Zealand rugby team and performed for the first time against the Springboks in 2005.

This haka was written by a cultural expert, Derek Lardelli. The aim was to incorporate a more contemporary feel with words more specific to the New Zealand team. It was also meant to reflect the wider social and cultural elements, with an emphasis on the Pacific Island tradition.

The controversial throat-slitting gesture at the end caused a big stir. Haka experts say this motion was originally meant to signify a drawing of breath from the sky to the lungs. Perhaps it suited the All Blacks better to leave the message mixed? It is provocative at best and menacing at worst.

There's little doubt the haka will continue to stimulate debate in both a cultural and sporting context. But does it remain relevant? And is it appropriate, possibly allowing the All Blacks an unfair psychological advantage before kick-off?

Regardless of those who love it, those who hate it, and those who are indifferent, the haka is here to stay. Tiki Edwards pointed out: "The haka is a living part of a living culture. It is evolving, just like everything else around us."

For more news and discussion from the Rugby World Cup, listen to BBC Radio 5 live on Thursday, 2100-2230 BST.

Have we caught an early glimpse of the future world champions? I believe we might.

It took New Zealand just eight minutes to break the French. It's easy to say with hindsight, but it's the truth. From the moment fly-half Dan Carter put boot to ball to clear downfield after an inspired French opening, the visitors were done for.

The All Blacks were intent on displaying why they are the hot favourites to lift the Webb Ellis trophy.

After three minutes, Morgan Parra dropped for goal. As the makeshift fly-half contorted his face in frustration, the ball struck the upright and rebounded underneath the posts.

Louis Picamoles reached high for it, but the All Blacks full-back Israel Dagg wrestled it from his grasp, and released the pressure. It was a moment seemingly frozen in time. France needed to score early to drive belief through their ranks. They had nothing to show for their efforts.

Undeterred, a few minutes later Parra popped a clever cross-field kick towards the hulking Damien Traille on the left wing. Cory Jane's tackle five metres from the tryline was critical, even if it appeared he had taken out the Frenchman in the air.

Cory Jane's tackle on France full-back Damien Traille denied France an early score. Picture: Getty

After eight minutes, New Zealand had hardly touched the ball. They were clinging on, stretching every sinew to live with the impassioned French start. When they finally
saw the precious white pigskin, Carter made sure his kick provided the All Blacks with plenty of room to breathe.

What followed was a remarkable response, from a special New Zealand team. Perhaps we will reflect in four weeks' time that it was in fact a champion response.

In their famous semi-final at the World Cup of 1999, France had scored three tries in a blistering second-half spell which undid the All Black challenge. This time the roles were reversed; this Black blitz at Eden Park featured three tries in just 11 minutes.

No-one at the World Cup has yet found a way to stop Ma'a Nonu. Outstanding all night, he announced himself with a typical bustling burst through the midfield, and the ball was whipped wide for Adam Thomson to touch down.

Cory Jane was next on the scoresheet, ripping through the defence after the softest of delayed passes from scrum-half Piri Weepu. Carter's brilliant 'show and go' let Israel Dagg in for the third. Three quick tries; France shredded. It was 19-0 to New Zealand and there was only 21 minutes on the clock.

The All Black magic was sustained after the break. Dagg's second came thanks to a trademark bust from Sonny Bill Williams and - needless to say - the offload, which found Carter in support. There was a heady cocktail of Kiwi talent on show, and they were enjoying the stage.

The France coach Marc Lievremont said afterwards that he was happy that his side hadn't panicked. They at least made the scoreline respectable with an intercept try from Maxime Mermoz, and Francois Trinh-Duc's opportunist score from a quick tap penalty. The game had threatened to become a complete humiliation.

Appropriately perhaps, the All Blacks had the final say. Ali Williams' brilliant gather at the re-start resulted in Sonny Bill Williams finding his way over in the corner. In amongst all this, Dan Carter had popped over only the fourth drop-goal of his international career.

It is worth mentioning in the light of New Zealand's inability to summon a drop-goal to finish off France at the last World Cup in 2007. The world's best fly-half has been practising, just in case the tactic is required in a tight squeeze later on. On this evidence, it is in full working order, as is his previously troublesome lower back.

It was a destructive performance from New Zealand, who have now declared their hand. We have seen the real All Black side, and even their doubters must recognise that it is a genuine force to be reckoned with.

The victory will parachute them into the arguably tougher 'southern hemisphere' section of the knockout stages. Argentina, South Africa and Australia are likely to lie in wait. The French path now becomes a familiar one, with the prospect of a quarter-final against England or Scotland, and most likely Ireland or Wales in the semis.

Richie McCaw is presented with a special cap in recognition of his 100th Test by former All Blacks captain Jock Hobbs. Picture: Getty

It was a fitting way for Richie McCaw to celebrate his 100th international appearance. The open-side flanker has now become the first All Black to that milestone. He has also helped banish the memories of those painful defeats to France at the World Cups of 1999 and 2007.

To see him accept his commemorative cap from the legendary former New Zealand captain Jock Hobbs after the game was to witness a special moment. Hobbs announced last May that he had been diagnosed with a form of leukaemia. This was his first high-profile public appearance since resigning from the NZRU and the World Cup organising body in December.

"I have got a huge amount of respect for that fella" said McCaw afterwards. "For him to come out and say those words and present that cap, I couldn't think of a better man to be able to do that and to receive it from".

There is still much rugby to be played. But on the evidence of this victory over France, McCaw may be back in a similar position at Eden Park in a month's time, clutching something rather shinier in his giant paws.

Maybe France’s 43-31 victory was the best of all time. Perhaps even, dare I suggest it, for All Blacks supporters. It was a unique occasion, a stunning contest featuring every possible element you could wish for in a sporting showdown.

There was a hot favourite, an unpredictable underdog, some phenomenally good tries and a barely believable see-sawing of the scoreboard. It was rare drama.

France centre Richard Dourthe (arms aloft) celebrates with Emile Ntamack as current coach Marc Lievremont looks on. Picture: Getty

Before the match, the All Blacks were 1-20 after destroying Tonga 45-9, England 30-16 and Italy 101-3 - before seeing off Scotland 30-18 in the quarter-final.

By contrast, France had been beaten 54-7 in Wellington four months previously and picked up the Five Nations wooden spoon. In the World Cup, they struggled past Canada, saw off a below-par Namibia and scraped through against Fiji 28-19 in a controversial pool match in Toulouse.

The Fijians had been denied what appeared to be a legitimate try by referee Paddy O’Brien and, despite leading 19-13 with 10 minutes to play, were undone by the New Zealand official when he awarded a penalty try to France late on.

Les Bleus had shown only a fleeting glimpse of their capabilities - in beating Argentina in the quarter-final 47-26.

France winger Emile Ntamack recalled: “We were laughing before the game. It was very simple, we had nothing to lose. The difference between the two teams was incredible. For us there was a great pride at just being in the semi-final. Nobody expected us to get there.”

John Hart was the New Zealand coach that day.

He remembered: “My theme for the team had been, ‘Expect the unexpected’. I had a great respect for the French capacity to do special things. Invariably a degree of complacency can wear in and it was probably in the players’ minds. As soon as you have any complacency at this level you open the door -  that’s what happened.”

New Zealand were edgy at the start, making uncharacteristic errors. France lost Xavier Garbajosa to a yellow card early on but still struck first with a Christophe Lamaison try.

It was the start of a remarkable day for the fly-half, where he didn’t miss a kick. But Andrew Mehrtens’s boot and a bruising Jonah Lomu try sent the All Blacks into the changing rooms 17-10 ahead.

According to Ntamack, France were unfazed at the break. He said: “The first half was tough for us but the scoreline wasn’t too bad. We told each other, ‘We’re in the game - stay strong in defence, stay focused’.”

Across the hallway, John Hart was telling his team to shut the game down.

He said: “The message I gave them was to play for territory, dominate the set-piece and not let them into the game. Sadly we didn’t follow that message because we scored too easily after half-time through Jonah [Lomu]. Immediately people thought, ‘We’re home’. Tactically we played into the opposition’s hands.” 

Lomu’s second try was his 15th in World Cups and put New Zealand 24-10 ahead. It seemed the All Blacks were heading for the final  - but France had other ideas. Lamaison banged over two quick drop-goals and two penalties. Suddenly there was only a two-point difference with 25 minutes to go.

Ntamack remembered: “I don’t think we changed the way we were playing. I think the All Blacks changed. They were surprised to see us fighting, surprised at our spirit.”

France blitzed New Zealand with a three-try burst through Christophe Dominici, Richard Dourthe and Phillippe Bernat-Salles. All came from kicks piercing the defence. It was a breathtaking spell of 33 unanswered points. 

Hart said: “That rugby ball can do some strange things and it decided to do them that afternoon at Twickenham. We were beaten by an unbelievable 20 minutes of rugby from the French. Every bounce went their way and they got a very strong rub of the green from the referee [Scotland’s Jim Fleming] - although I’ve never said it publicly until now.

“People in New Zealand say what a disaster it was but, when you look at the tries and the nature of the game, it was the most outstanding game of rugby football.”

Ntamack felt invincible. He said: “We didn’t want the game to stop. This was our day. New Zealand didn’t know what had happened. We had it all, we had everything. We felt we could keep going and score more tries. We played with big hearts, with honour and with guts.”

Tana Umaga, Jonah Lomu and Andrew Mehrtens were among a star-studded All Blacks team stunned by the French at Twickenham. Picture: Getty

The game ended with the All Blacks scoring a consolation try at the end through Jeff Wilson but New Zealand were broken men leaving the field after the 43-31 defeat.

John Hart remembered: “There were a lot of tears. I had to confront the media because my captain [Taine Randell) was in no state to do so. He was devastated. It was soul-destroying.’’

The French celebrations were unconfined, although the fairytale ended as they were beaten by Australia 35-12 in the Millennium Stadium final.

Little did Hart know that, eight years later, the French would inflict another heartbreaking World Cup defeat on the All Blacks – beating them 20-18 in a World Cup quarter-final in Cardiff.

France seem to relish knocking over the sport’s kingpins and have another chance this weekend in Auckland.

Perhaps the last word should go to Ntamack. He added: "We know deep down we can play brilliant rugby. Every time we play New Zealand it’s a special game. They are a reference point for every team in the world. But it’s not just about beating them - it’s about proving to them that we are good players too."

Listen to 5 live Sport's Rugby World Cup programme on Thursday, 2100-2230 BST.