The rock-bottom Red Rose are in another pool of death – but home nations rivals Wales, as well as Ireland, are looking much sweeter as the countdown to Japan 2019 starts in earnest.
What are the biggest questions at hand – and more importantly what are the answers?
Here, SunSport's rugby correspondent Jonny Fordham takes you through the biggest talking points – and makes his early predictions at the bottom.
What kind of state are England at after six defeats in their last seven games?
A desperate one.
Not only is boss Eddie Jones still fighting for his job, but the RFU is in a financial mess after 60 redundancies thanks to a £30million over-spend on Twickenham's new East Stand.
All-in-all, it is the perfect storm of chaos on and off the pitch. Jones has taken his side from equalling the All Blacks' world-record winning run of 18 in a row to a team at a real low.
Wales, Scotland and Ireland are all looking on trying not to laugh at how the Red Rose have fallen so spectacularly.
And with England in another pool of death alongside France, Argentina, USA and Tonga – there is a real fear that this could be another tournament that is over before it has started.
How has Jones got it so wrong?
The Aussie came in with the plan to phase out skipper Dylan Hartley after two years and bring through Jamie George at hooker.
The same could be said of Mike Brown at full-back. But steady Eddie has found himself stuck in a selection fog and can't drop players who he thought he would.
His insistence to also play England's best player, Owen Farrell, out of position at inside centre and not at no.10 is another mistake.
But he may get lucky if Manu Tuilagi stays fit to become his World Cup centre after three years of waiting for him to get over his injury curse.
So there is no way England can get anywhere near the mighty All Blacks, then?
Well, troubled South Africa did – but they also hammered England 2-1 in the southern hemisphere this summer.
England's players lack the skills of New Zealand's, but that isn't the fault of their boss.
The first showdown in the Autumn in November will be the ultimate acid test and gives Jones the chance to prove he still has what it takes to turn it around in just 12 months.
Who will do the best out of the Lions unions then?
Look no further than Ireland. The toughest time they will face in their group is Scotland.
The Irish seem to have a never-ending conveyor belt of the hottest talent in Europe – and with Andy Farrell running their defence, they have it all and will be expected to reach the final.
Warren Gatland will be delighted with what's happening to England and, to be fair to the Wales boss, he did predict it.
The Dragons have to deal with Australia in Pool D – but again, like Ireland and Scotland, the rest of their group are looking bang average.
Prediction
England – semi-finals
Wales – semi-finals
Scotland – quarter-finals
Ireland – finalists
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