Hill’s return to boost sluggish England

World Cup semi-finalists England look set to receive a major boost with the return from injury of their star flanker Richard Hill.

Saracens forward Hill has missed England's last four World Cup games, including the pivotal fixtures against South Africa, Samoa and Wales, with a hamstring problem.

But as England settled into their beach-front hotel in Sydney yesterday, head coach Clive Woodward delivered an upbeat message about Hill's prospects of facing France next Sunday.