After the pre-tournament suspension and fiasco surrounding Owen Farrell, a red card for Tom Curry in their tournament opener, and a similar suspension for Billy Vunipola, England are somehow preparing for a World Cup quarter-final.
Not only that, but they managed to come out of Pool D with a flawless record - surely one of the most tumultuous runs to four wins from four in Rugby World Cup history.
Their task in the quarter-finals will be a tricky one, with Fiji having beaten them in the warm up games before sending Australia packing from Pool C.
England's task will be aided by the fact that captain Owen Farrell is back in the picture, having featured in the final two pool games after serving his pre-tournament suspension.
However, reports emerging this week suggest that all may not be well in the England camp - and that Farrell is at the centre of a conflict with out-of-favour winger Henry Arundell.
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Reports emerge of rift inside England camp at World Cup involving captain Owen Farrell
Arundell was the star of England's 71-0 win over Chile, with a record-equalling five tries - but that remains the only game in which he has featured at this year's Rugby World Cup.
Retired England international Andy Goode, suggested on Tuesday's episode of the Rugby Pod that Arundell's absence from the matchday 23 is down to a training ground feud with captain Farrell:
We haven't scored many tries. You've a kd in the stands, Henry Arundell, you scored five tries in one game.
He's got game-breaking ability, he's got X-factor, and he can't get a look in.
But there's a reason behind it. I heard through the grapevine and through my sources that Henry Arundell and Owen Farrell had a bit of a set-to and scrap at training. And, because you don't mess around with Faz apparently in this England squad, that's why Henry Arundell isn't anywhere near the matchday 23.
After scoring five tries by the way, which is massive.
Goode's claim was labelled as a "rumour" by co-host Jim Hamilton on the Rugby Pod, but numerous reports across the English press suggest that, at the very least, a training ground dispute between the two players did occur.
19 August 2023; England head coach Steve Borthwick, left, and Owen Farrell of England before the Bank of Ireland Nations Series match between Ireland and England at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
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The argument allegedly stemmed from Farrell shouting at Arundell to "chase those fucking kicks," an outburst which supposedly left Arundell unhappy with his captain.
Today's latest reports in the Daily Mail, however, suggest that the dispute was not the reason for Arundell's continued absence from the England squad, and that Farrell has been outspoken and vocal with the entire squad in an effort to raise standards on the training pitch.
After a tumultuous buildup to the tournament, it doesn't seem as though things are calming down any time soon for England. They face Fiji in Marseille at 4pm on Sunday in the third of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals.
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