Woodward backs side to rise to challenge

CLIVE WOODWARD yesterday admitted England are under enormous pressure to perform at the World Cup but insisted his team would rise to the challenge.

In terms of talent and preparation, the 2003 tournament in Australiarepresents England's best opportunity to lift the Webb Ellis trophy since thecompetition's inception in 1987. The current Six Nations champions have recorded victories over all their main rivals in the past year and travel Down Under at the summit of the Zurich World and International Rugby Board Rankings, although the bookies make New Zealand slight favourites.

"The pressure that is put on England by the media and the public is nothing compared to the pressure the team puts on itself everyone is very focused and no-one wants to let the others down," Woodward said.