It was a Dad's Army version of England that won the tournament in Australia in 2003, with present-day coach Martin Johnson inspiring a grizzled forward pack.
Eight years later, Johnson has assembled a fascinating mix of the old and the new, with liberal sprinklings of exciting talent to go with the more uncomplicated head-down-and-backside-up types.
For every Jonny Wilkinson (32), Steve Thompson (33) and Nick Easter (33), there is a Manu Tuilagi (20), a Dan Cole (24) and a Lawes (22).
In Tuilagi and Lawes, especially, Johnson has found two blockbusting athletes capable of exciting deeds, some of which will hopefully be displayed at Otago Stadium in tomorrow night's game against Argentina.
Lawes is simply a beast. He stands an even 2m, weighs in at 111kg, hits hard, and can run and pass and catch in what might be termed a rather un-English way.
The Northampton Saints lock is eager to earn his 11th cap and his World Cup stripes in Dunedin.
"I think the boys are going to do well. Everyone's really excited to get started," Lawes said yesterday.
The stage is set for a mighty clash up front between the English and the Pumas, with both sides keen to establish physical dominance.
"They're a big pack and they're going to be up for it.
We're prepared for that," Lawes said of the Argentine eight.
"They always come out very hard. If you stick with them for the first 20 minutes then you're going to be doing all right towards the end of the game."
Lawes will confront robust Pumas veteran Patricio Albacete in the second row. He will give away eight years and 30 caps, but is confident in his own ability.
A firm track and a dry ball should suit an athlete like Lawes, and he is excited about the prospect of playing in Dunedin's new covered stadium.
"It looks pretty good. It'll be great when it's packed out. I'm looking forward to playing there."
England has named fullback Delon Armitage on the wing, replacing the injured Mark Cueto. Tuilagi wins his third cap at centre, outside Mike Tindall, who is captaining the side in the absence of the injured Lewis Moody.
Wilkinson earns his 88th English cap at first five-eighth, while a typically sizeable front row features veteran hooker Steve Thompson and giant prop Andrew Sheridan.
Former North Otago loose forward Tom Wood and former Otago Boys' High School pupil Tom Palmer are on the bench.