Woodward: Aussies are the team to beat

England arrived at the World Cup tonight with coach Clive Woodward repeating his belief that host nation and defending champions Australia will be the team to beat.

It was a relatively low-key entrance at Perth International Airport - understandable given the 1am touch down, local time – but a small group of English fans cheered every player into the arrivals lounge.

Among the supporters was 10-year-old Oliver Hoskins, who lives in Perth but whose family are from Sussex, kitted out in a Richard the Lionheart costume made by his mother, Jennifer.

Predictably, England captain Martin Johnson, talisman number eight, Lawrence Dallaglio and fly-half star Jonny Wilkinson received most attention, but all the players were happy to stop and sign autographs.

There was even a lively rendition of England’s Swing Low Sweet Chariot rugby anthem, launched in reply to Waltzing Matilda from some track-suited Australian followers.

The 30-man England squad and back-up staff boarded waiting coaches for their 20-minute journey into central Perth, and will give an arrival news conference tomorrow morning, UK time.

Woodward though, whose team have been installed as one of the firm favourites for World Cup glory, had time for some brief comments to assembled journalists and camera crews.

“We are looking forward to the tournament,” Woodward said. “Whoever wins the World Cup has got to beat Australia – they’ve won it twice, know how to win it, and hold the World Cup.

“I’m sure that Australia will enjoy the pressure of being at home, and we enjoy the pressure of arriving as one of the teams who have come to win it.”

England’s first match in Pool C is against minnows and tournament new boys Georgia on Sunday week at Perth’s Subiaco Oval.

They also face South Africa in Perth, then travel to Melbourne for an October 27 appointment with Samoa and finally Uruguay in Brisbane the following weekend.