"If you serve them well, they will pay, " says Lawrence Wilkinson, Oxygen's vice chairman and strategic noodler.

FORBES: The convergence gamble

The Stoke boss made four changes to the side which played out an uninspiring goalless draw against Sunderland, with Andy Wilkinson, Lawrence, Rory Delap and Fuller all drafted into the starting line-up.

BBC: Stoke 3-0 Blackburn

"When you look at the likes of Phil Vickery, Martin Corry, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall and Jason Robinson, you start getting a core of leaders and you think, 'We've got something here', " he said.

BBC: SPORT | Rugby Union | English | England 'must start playing well'