KEY POINTS:
PARIS - Critics say he's too slow and too old; his supporters believe his rugby detractors are motivated by a sniffy contempt for the background from which he emerged.
Either way, Andy Farrell will have plenty to prove when England begin the defence of their World Cup title with the former league man determined to show that he can make a success out of switching codes.
"I just get on with playing the game and that's all I can do. If my contributions can lift the side, then I've played my part," said Farrell, whose £500,000 ($1.4 million) switch from Wigan to Saracens raised eyebrows and concern in equal measure when a succession of injuries kept the former Great Britain skipper sidelined for the first year of his union deal.
"It's all about taking on individual responsibility within the dynamics of the team - that's what makes a good side. As long as I can leave the pitch and say to myself I've given it my best shot, I'll be happy."
Having been selected for a World Cup starting place by coach Brian Ashton, he'll have plenty of support alongside him in the shape of Jason Robinson who also left Wigan in 2000 to play union at Sale.
Robinson has been an unqualified union success, scoring a memorable try in the 2003 World Cup final against Australia before being elevated to skipper.
"There's a lot of ignorance on both sides," said Robinson, when asked to describe his conversion to union. "When I played rugby league I was very biased against union because I didn't understand it. I used to call it kick-and-clap. The ball would be kicked by somebody and everyone would clap."
Australia too have their share of league-to-union converts. One of the most exciting on display in France will be Lote Tuqiri, who already has 27 tries in 53 tests, including his team's only try in the 2003 final.
Tuqiri left the Brisbane Broncos in 2002 to play union. He is certainly a hot commodity, being paid a rumoured A$1.2 million ($1.4 million) a season.
Tuqiri is never far from controversy, serving a number of suspensions. He was banned for two tests this year for missing a medical.
"It's been a tough season, but I've got to keep my head up," Tuqiri, his country's 43rd dual code international, said.
"It's just something I will have to look at."
There will be no Mat Rogers this time round for the Wallabies.
In a five-year union career, Rogers set an Australian record for the most points in a match when he netted 42 points in the 142-0 demolition of Namibia in the 2003 World Cup.
His time in union, which ended with a 2006 league move to Gold Coast, was never without controversy or mutual suspicion. Rogers was dogged by injury and upset many in the game for his damning comments over training standards at club level.
Former Wallabies prop Tony Daly was never a fan, telling Australian media: "He has come over from league with the long hair, earrings and tattoos and we've polished him up."
Wendell Sailor was another Aussie convert whose career has seen incredible highs and depressing lows. The barnstorming winger made a big-money move from the Broncos to Queensland in 2001 and made his international union debut in the same match as Rogers against France in 2002.
He started the World Cup in 2003 but was dropped in favour of Tuqiri for the final.
Last year, he tested positive for cocaine and was subsequently banned. The 33-year-old Sailor is expected to play rugby league for St George Illawarra in 2008 when his suspension is lifted.
Welsh international Iestyn Harris saw his move to union end in heartbreak and an eventual switch back to league after just three years.
His move from Leeds Rhinos to Cardiff cost the Welsh Rugby Union £1.5 million with the game's rulers desperate to see Harris fit snugly into the mythical number 10 shirt.
Harris made his international debut after just 200 minutes of club rugby and struggled to make an impact.
After 25 caps, Harris returned north to league and the Bradford Bulls.
- AFP
