The former French flanker came under heavy fire for constantly tinkering his team over the past ten months before blowing away all before them in 2010.

And after utilising 32 players himself as England demolished the opposition - conceding just 16 points along the way - to claim successive RBS 6 Nations titles, Street admits he has always had one eye on this year's World Cup.

"I remember when Marc was really being battered by the press thinking he was doing exactly what I was doing," said Street.

"He perhaps took it to extremes but we were ostensibly doing the same thing in trying to cover every possible eventuality before the World Cup.

"I used 42 players in my first campaign, 36 last year and 32 this year because I want a group of players who can win a World Cup - you can't win it with just 15.

"Even during the championship I would ask my coaches to name the worst possible scenario they could think of - say losing the scrum-half - and then I'd do it, I'd take that player off.

"If we do that, then when it happens at the World Cup - which it will - we will know how to deal with it."

Street will name a 26-strong squad for August's World Cup in London on May 4 - and he admits the squad's strong showing in the Six Nations has left him with a selection headache.

"There are 44 players who could make the grade and that means 18 players who are capable will not go to the World Cup," he added.

"I was most impressed in the Six Nations by how seamlessly the 'A' players we brought in fitted into the team - it has given me lots to ponder.

"We will have a separate plan for the other 18 and they will all be ready to go if they are needed."