Aussie chief tips England for World Cup glory

Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O’Neill has rated England as “absolute and deserving favourites” to win the World Cup in November and all but dismissed his own side’s chances.

The Wallabies may be defending champions after beating France in the Cardiff final of 1999, but O’Neill cannot see past Clive Woodward’s side becoming the first to take the Webb Ellis Trophy back to the northern hemisphere.

England top the world rankings, have beaten the four sides immediately below them in consecutive matches and, with Jonny Wilkinson controlling the game from fly-half, O’Neill insisted they will be the team to beat.

“England have beaten us, the Springboks and the All Blacks. They have just beaten France and are the number one team in the world,” he said.

“While the majority of their victories have been at home, they are playing very good rugby.

“They are intimidating, have a big, mobile pack that beefed it up to us.

“They are not playing the 10-man game – though they can if they need to – and are getting the ball out wide and can score tries.

“It is very hard to find a weakness – and they do have Jonny Wilkinson.”

O’Neill described losing at Twickenham, as Australia did in November for the third consecutive occasion, as the worst place in the world to be beaten.

“English confidence has never been higher, and their fans never more vocal. England is the team to beat in world rugby. England are absolute and deserving favourites,” he said.

John Eales lifted the trophy for Australia at the Millennium Stadium, but since the great man hung up his boots the Wallabies have been caught up by their chief rivals.

New Zealand regained the Tri-Nations crown last year, the Wallabies were beaten by Ireland and England last autumn and, as a result, O’Neill does not even rate Australia in the world’s top three.

“We’ll need everything going for us to win seven games in seven weeks,” he added. “I would rate England number one and the All Blacks number two. We are probably ranked fourth in the world at the moment.”