They were, they said, the worst-ever defending champions, possibly in any sport.
And we were all warned to expect an early return to these shores.
But England's rugby union side have defied all the odds and will attempt next Saturday to become the first ever side to win back to back world cups.
Whether they do so or not against South Africa remains to be seen.
England's problem for the neutral is that they do not play the kind of expansive rugby that is pleasing to the eye.
Their forwards are the major force in matches backed up by the metronomical boot of Jonny Wilkinson.
But even those who struggle to see the merits of the 15-a-side code - and I count myself among them - have to have some admiration for the way they have gone about their business.
I watched three major sporting events at the weekend - with Town not playing I had to occupy myself somehow.
And the rugby union World Cup semi-final was the pick of the bunch.
England's footballers did what was expected of them with a 3-0 win over Estonia, even if they did need two deflected efforts and an own goal to overcome the minnows on their Euro 2008 qualifier.
I was particularly struck by the Wembley walk and wondered how many supporters of club sides would be disappointed with a fifth successive 3-0 win.
If they manage the feat again tomorrow in Russia they may well be able to push the union boys off the back pages.
Then it was the Super League Grand Final - the showpiece event of the rugby league season.
The result was rarely in doubt and while there was the usual impressive running and some decent tries it was hardly gripping.
St Helens looked a beaten side from the kick off and went on to prove that theory.
The most surprising thing about the whole evening was that referee Ashley Klein was not the centre of attention.
Then it was England-France with the old enemy having home advantage.
While the ball spent much of the time either in the air or buried under a pile of bodies it was edge of the seat stuff.
And at least the team that scored the only try of the game actually won.
Now it is on to the South Africans.
Just three weeks ago the Springboks dished out a humiliating 30-point hammering to England.
They may well win again at the weekend, but it will be closer.
And even if they lose England, as defending champions, will have done themselves proud.

ENGLAND'S footballers face Russia on an artificial pitch in Moscow tomorrow, a fact that will make their chances of getting a result even harder than they already were.
But they have left nothing to chance, training on a similar surface in Altrincham.
The pitch may be slightly different but the cold grey surroundings will be perfect acclimatisation for the Russian capital.