The future starts now.

On Tuesday, 1 July Martin Johnson formally assumes control of the England rugby team, and after recent disappointments many fans will be thinking ‘not a moment too soon’.

It is a pivotal occasion for the English game as Johnson will announce his first 32-man Elite Player Squad, while the new agreement between the Rugby Football Union and the clubs begins.

After years of club-v-country warfare the new deal finally gives England a realistic measure of control over their players and will hopefully pave the way for greater success on the field.

Johnson will now have total control over the players for three periods during the season, with clubs releasing their players 13 or 14 days before the autumn internationals, Six Nations and summer tours.

Johnson takes over with the team at a low on and off the pitch.

After their precipitous decline following the 2003 World Cup triumph, when the captain was some mono-browed behemoth with a wonderfully acute rugby brain - wonder whatever happened to him - England finally seem ready for a fresh dawn.

The Andy Robinson reign was painful, and while Brian Ashton’s achievement of reaching a World Cup final and coming second in the Six Nations was remarkable, it seemed to happen despite, rather than because of the system.

The way the RFU finally got rid of Ashton was typically inglorious, but now England fans finally have a figurehead they revere and a man who will command total support from across English rugby.

So what do English rugby fans want from Johnson’s first squad?

Some will demand a total clear out and chuck in the youngsters, others will preach evolution, not revolution, but all will demand a clear-sighted vision of both the short-term and long-term future.

As part of this there are changes afoot in the coaching structure.

Johnson is set to appoint London Irish boss Brian Smith as attack coach, while forwards coach Jon Wells and defence coach Mike Ford, who have both been the subject of criticism, retain their roles.

Johnson’s depth of understanding of the game and how it has evolved means anyone expecting England to play like Leicester of five years ago will surely be disappointed.

Smith’s London Irish team have produced some superb flowing rugby in recent times and his appointment strongly suggests England are committed to developing a range of styles rather than relying on a one-dimensional power game that can be negated by sides that can match them up front.

England will base their game on power, no doubt, but there will be plenty of pace and hopefully more footballing ability.

However, with Danny Cipriani currently hors de combat England’s much-maligned back play will have to be improved without the help of English rugby’s most sublime talent.

On Tuesday Johnson will make his first statement of intent about how he sees the immediate future of English rugby unfolding.

With England currently struggling in the second row and the midfield it will be fascinating to see who Johnson turns to there.

Looking at youngsters who may be given a call-up, will young giant Richard Blaze get the nod in the second row, or will veteran loose cannon Danny Grewcock be recalled?

Leicester number eight Jordan Crane impressed for England Saxons and may be ready to step up, and what about 20-year-old Worcester winger Miles Benjamin - he will surely play for England one day but is it too soon to introduce him to the full England set-up?

Personally I would like to see Gloucester fly-half Ryan Lamb given a chance with the big boys.

If England are to continue to improve they have to add more footballing skills to the power Johnson can undoubtedly call on, and with Cipriani injured Lamb appears to be the man to get the backline moving.

He may be small and have defensive frailties, but anyone who saw him dumping opposition players with relish at the Churchill Cup will know he is no turnstile and after all, just how many players can stop Alesana Tuilagi at full tilt anyway?

So how do you see it – it is a bright new dawn for England or just more of the same?

Can the iconic Johnson translate playing success into clear-sighted management?

Should he be picking young guns or wise old heads for his first England squad?

And what are the names you want to see in the squad at 1100 BST on Tuesday?