England can thank a clairvoyant wife and a coach not averse to pulling something out of his old box of tricks for having Jason Robinson lining up in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals.
The 33-year-old Robinson will win his 50th Test cap for England in tomorrow's clash with France.
He was named in a squad unchanged from the one which upset Australia 12-10 in the quarter-finals.
Two years after he first retired from international rugby, and back from what he feared was a career-ending injury in pool play, Robinson was preparing for what he hopes will be two last victories.
"It's no coincidence I'm here now," Robinson said on Wednesday. "To be here now is special -- you couldn't have scripted it better."
The deeply religious Robinson said his wife, Amanda, gave him the inspiration for his England comeback.
"It all started off with my wife having a vision that I'd be back playing for England and she wouldn't be coming with me. We couldn't understand at the time because wherever I go, my wife usually comes with me. We later found out that my wife was pregnant so she couldn't come with me. Certain things happen for a reason. The influence from her is the biggest thing," he said.
At that time Robinson said he was content in retirement with a World Cup title and a Six Nations Grand Slam in rugby union.
"I never once said I want to go back and play international rugby," he said. "There was nothing there at all, to be honest," to prompt his wife's vision.
Brian Ashton's appointment as England coach in December, at about the same time, was another big factor.
Robinson and Ashton first worked together at Bath in 1996, when Ashton was the club's head coach and the then rugby league star tested the water in a four-month spell in the 15-man code.
When Andy Robinson quit as England head coach amid a crisis for the World Cup champions last November, Ashton took over and set about persuading Robinson out of retirement.
"The way it had been going for England, I think everyone was desperate," Robinson said. "Coming into a World Cup year, I think England needed it's strongest players out on the field."
So Robinson responded.
He played in the Six Nations and England's first two World Cup matches. He was the only back to shine in the 36-0 loss to South Africa before injuring his hamstring and thinking it would end his tournament.
He missed the following wins over Samoa and Tonga and returned for the quarter-final against Australia, which England entered as the rank underdog.
"Little did I know I would retire, then come back out of retirement and win a 50th cap," Robinson said. "The Lord has taken me from one amazing thing to another."
Robinson was one of the highest-profile converts to rugby union after it went professional in the mid-1990s when he signed on for the Sale club in northwest England in 2000.
He made his England debut the following February but there were still critics of his big-money transfer until his debut for the British and Irish Lions in 2001, when he stood up Australia fullback Chris Latham and scored a dazzling try in the Brisbane win.
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