Eurosport's rugby expert Neil Back was disappointed with England's performance against the USA and admits that he has a heavy heart when he thinks about their chances in the World Cup.

I imagine like all England fans, and the players themselves, I was very disappointed with England's performance against the USA last Saturday.

But I want to start my blog this week by pointing out that a win is a win at the World Cup and that England are not the only team to have struggled against the so called 'minnows'.

It is also worth remembering that for a team like the USA this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. They were playing against the defending champions at the World Cup and were playing with tremendous pride.

They were out to stop England and there is every chance that they will not play that well again at this World Cup.

Also, if England go on to do well then their performance against the USA will be forgotten.

Having said that, I expected England to get the basics right and the fact they failed to do so really worries me.

The more they struggled with the basics the more pressure they were put under, and the more they then tried to sort out the problems individually and not as a team.

There were a couple of positives from the match. Olly Barkley played well and controlled the game, and Tom Rees did okay on the open side. It was good for him to get another game under his belt after his injury.

But I fear the worse against South Africa, and it hurts me to say this. The England players know they are not performing but it appears they are trying to sort it out on their own.

If they do that against South Africa then they will get smashed. It will be a similar situation to when we beat them 52-6 at Twickenham a few years ago. They have got to get some cohesion.

England have had their share of bad luck. It has been mentally tough for them but they just have to get over it.

The Phil Vickery incident was an automatic reaction and not premeditated, but thankfully I think Matt Stevens will be an able replacement.

Stevens is no Phil Vickery yet, but he can scrum well enough and he will add something in the loose with his good hands.

Barkley's injury is more worrying and what I'm hearing from the camp he will be out for at least two weeks.

With Jonny Wilkinson also injured that leaves us with Andy Farrell at fly-half. Farrell, Mike Catt and Jamie Noon at 10, 12 and 13 worries me.

Personally, I would have called for Charlie Hodgson right away, though that would mean having to send someone home.

I would put my faith in Charlie as he can control the game well and is a good kicker, though he hasn't always kicked at his best for England.

Some might argue that there would not have been enough time between now and Friday to get Charlie up to speed - but if we call him up after the South Africa game then it might be too late!

I think England's back row for South Africa has a better look about. I was not surprised Lawrence Dallaglio got dropped after his performance against the USA because he seemed to run out of puff.

However, although I like the balance of Nick Easter, Martin Corry and Rees in the back row we must remember they've not played much as a combination.

I'm also pleased to see Lewis Moody amongst the replacements again because I think he has it in him to be a man of the match off the bench.

What I cannot understand is why England have stuck with Mark Regan at hooker and not gone with George Chuter. I know Chuter is one of my club-mates, but Ronnie (Regan) did not play well against the USA and Chutes deserves his chance.

Chutes is a good thrower, a good scrummager and also has good hands.

From what I've heard, Ronnie has been talking a good game in training and maybe this has got him the nod ahead of Chutes, who just goes about his business.

I'm absolutely shocked by Ronnie's selection and find it very bizarre.

Without wanting to sound too dramatic, I have a heavy heart when I think about England. If you had asked me four years ago where England would be at this World Cup, then I would not have imagined the position they are in now.

No team has successfully defended the World Cup before and it is a very hard thing to do, but it would have been unthinkable then to imagine the position England are in now.

As for South Africa, well they looked very confident in their first game out. They play with pace, have creativity and do the set piece very well. They are a major force.

But I want to end my blog on a positive note because England do have good players and I genuinely believe they have a big performance in them. They just need to bring everything with them to the table on Friday.

They need to win the line-outs and scrums, create a solid platform and then maybe they have a chance. But if they don't, then conceding 50 points is a very real possibility.

Eurosport