England prop Joe Marler said he would back his team to win the Rugby World Cup if it started tomorrow, but stressed there was plenty of work to be done before they play host to the next edition in 2015.
England are on a fine run of form at present, having beaten world champions New Zealand in December, and they lead the Six Nations with two wins out of two.
Victories at home to Scotland and away to Ireland have left England as the only country in this season's Six Nations capable of winning a Grand Slam ahead of the visit of France a week on Saturday.
After England's record-breaking 38-21 win over New Zealand at Twickenham in December, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said Stuart Lancaster's side were capable of winning the World Cup.
"If it was to start tomorrow, we'd back ourselves to win it. It's a little bit of an English thing in most sports, getting ahead of ourselves somewhat," said Marler.
"We're on a journey as a team and each time we pull on that shirt it's another step towards that ultimate goal of a home World Cup in front of your own fans.
"That's our main goal. But we'll be focusing on the process in between then and now because it's still two-and-a-half years away, so we've got lots to do before then."
Meanwhile, England fly-half Owen Farrell, whose recent performances in the white shirt have seen him touted as a starting 10 for the British and Irish Lions in Australia later this year, was also cautious about a repetition of the Red Rose brigade's 2003 World Cup triumph.
"The World Cup is a long way away," he said. "There's obviously loads of rugby to be played before then but that's when everyone wants to peak and that's what we want to build towards.
"As long as we keep going in the right direction, we'll be in good stead."
This week's rugby headlines in Britain have been dominated by the fall-out from Lions coach Warren Gatland's interview with the London Evening Standard where the New Zealander suggested he'd limit the number of England players in his squad.
Gatland, on secondment from his role as Wales coach, appeared to suggest an excess of England players in his party could lead to a media circus.
However, former Ireland and Wasps boss Gatland, both in the Standard article and subsequently, has insisted this Lions team will be picked solely on merit.
It was a point he stressed again during a pre-arranged meeting with Lancaster and the England squad earlier this week.
Marler said the general reaction within the England camp to Gatland's comments was one of amusement rather than anger.
"We had a bit of a giggle," he said. "I think he came out and said he was misquoted or something but for the boys, it's irrelevant."
Comments
scrumpoacher says...
@rugby folkstar It was a simple piece of logic-not a silly message...a silly message would be what marler is prattling on about...by the way BRUvRED was a better game(even with the ref slowing it down) than than any of the AP games I saw last weekend...
Posted 05:00 23rd February 2013
hellovanite says...
APV1...Are those live rounds?... 762 millimetre full metal jacket
Posted 13:43 22nd February 2013
Iyhel says...
Stupid question to fill newspaper, why would you expect interesting answers? The guy's not going to say he doesn't want to win the WC, especially at home...
Oh, and there's nothing as awesome as a winger of course. Especially if he sometimes deputises as flanker.
Posted 22:45 20th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ hellovanite - "...I'm going to start supporting Scotland!" Easy now.
This sort of loose talk reminds me of the bit in Full Metal Jacket when Pt. Pyle is sat on the bog about to go postal. Calm down and think it through before you do something really stupid.
Other than that, I have to agree with heart_of_oak.
Posted 10:13 20th February 2013
RugbyLocos says...
Lets see how England fare against France on Saturday before taking out the trumpets!!!.
Posted 08:51 20th February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
hellovanite - excellent post.
Posted 08:26 20th February 2013
hellovanite says...
Really! we are getting our pants in a bunch over the ramblings of a front rower. Who cares what he say's.
points that as a Kiwi with an English mother (um 3 quarters of the NZ population)
1. England beat us fair and square, yes they go on about it, but take it as a compliment. If I read another we were sick and it was the end of our season nonsense, I'm going to start supporting Scotland!
2. Not all kiwis are myopic fools with a fatalistic view of All Black domination. There are those of us that rejoice in victory, but also congratulate in defeat.
3. What Marler is saying is nothing more than we feel like we're playing really well right now and as a group we are connecting. As such we are confident that we could (not would) win a world cup it it was played tomorrow. From what I have seen lately that's a fair call.
Australian and South African fans would do well to remember that outside of good fortune at various times they were staring a defeat against England in the Autumn. In the case of Oz that counts for the Welsh game as well.
5. All n all who could blame the chap for being up beat on his sides ability. I suspect that some posters would just prefer to see the same old story unraveling every autumn. I for one can see past my nose and acknowledge the leaps, yes leaps that have been made in the NH game over the last few seasons. It was always on the cards the domestic comps are now putting out great running rugby a far cry from the one dimensional teams of the past.
As a kiwi I say bring it and bring it hard because as you raise your standards we will strive to do the same!
Posted 23:53 19th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ JamieTheProp - not true. Back-row forwards are. By a country mile. We have to be, as we're the most important and versatile players.
And, @ Spartacus, we're also the most handsome.
Posted 13:27 19th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
OzinLondon,
just behaving in the same manner as Scrum Poacher. Post a silly message, get a silly message in return.
Posted 10:08 19th February 2013
Spartacus says...
@JamieThe Prop - yes, and props are usually the most handsome players on the pitch too!
Posted 09:11 19th February 2013
porridge_time says...
Read the article, nothing arrogant from Marls or Farrrell, just young lads answering leading questions from sneaky journalists. I actually agree its a bit daft to say things like that, but its amusing to see the little boys on here get their knickers in a twist.
Totally agree. Pity Melkdave cannot be gracious enough to say the same about non-English players caught in the same position.
Posted 03:53 19th February 2013
porridge_time says...
APV1 says...
Personally I'm not bashing England... they are building towards being a very good team in my opinion and come WC2015 will be genuine contenders. Lancaster is doing a fantastic job both on and off the field.
My only thing was that Melkdave said that both Halfpenny and Beattie should have kept quiet regards their prospect... but does not feel the same regarding the English players comments... journalist are always looking for something that they can take out of context or get some thing.. players just need to be a little bit better at dealing with them.
On a side note... this weekend in the Six Nations will be a better barometer of where teams are actually at.
Posted 02:56 19th February 2013
kiwilad says...
RUGBY- ROCKSTAR I know rugby players are prone to placing their large hooves in their mouths from time to time, but why does it happen far more frequently from those wearing a Red Rose??
More media coverage perhaps? Or just stipidity?
Oh and by the way, i personally am a long way from envious...
Posted 01:41 19th February 2013
porridge_time says...
melkdave says...
Firstly each of the players I mentioned in my opinion have only responded to a journalist. Instead of ignoring the question they have answered it as best they could... none making any comment that I personally construed as over confidence or arrogance...
but for you to justify the English players comments as okay because the word cup is two years away smacks of rose tinted specs.
Posted 01:41 19th February 2013
JamieTheProp says...
I think you'll find props are the most intelligent players on the pitch!
Posted 23:13 18th February 2013
heart_of_oak says...
OzinLondon - using your scenario, if said Aussie had added the ryder "it's a bit of an Aussie thing in most sports, getting ahead of ourselves somewhat", why then I'd think the bloke actually meant "we'd back ourselves to win it but that'd be premature". By saying he thinks talk of winning the world cup is getting ahead of himself, Marler turns the sense of this article on its head. It becomes less of a cocky statement and more a bit of typical English self deprecation.
Would you agree ? If not, can you give me your interpretation of the phrase 'getting ahead of ourselves' because presumably I am misunderstanding it.
Having said all this, it would have been so much better for Marler not to say anything and to leave the press to a master tactician like, say, Homer Simpson. And speaking of master tacticians, anyone know where Sincero has gone ? I miss his insightful comments.
Posted 19:21 18th February 2013
kybone says...
OzinLondon- Australia were beaten at home by both Samoa and Scotland either side of the last WC and went on to finish 3rd. France lost to Tonga during the WC and were runners up. So losing games does not mean that you have no chance of taking the big prize, it just means that there are other teams with a very good chance I actually like the fact that players show confidence in the teams ability to achieve its goals. I dont think these comments are silly either. If our players come out and say things like 'no i don't really think we've got a chance. You want to be looking at NZ and SA for the winners of the next WC' that to me would show a complete lack of confidence and a weekness that may be prayed on by opposing yeams come 2015. This isn't a game of poker and there's no point in being cagey with the media. As the host nation, everyone knows that England are in it to win it.
Posted 17:40 18th February 2013
Spartacus says...
@APV1 - LOL. Exactly - since when have props been allowed to speak?
Posted 15:44 18th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ Spartacus - "...is a fool if he did not realise this would be the case."
He's a prop.
Posted 14:45 18th February 2013
OzinLondon says...
Players make silly comments sometimes.
But for those trying to play down the comments, here's a good test for you. If the Wallabies were beaten at home on successive weekends, in the middle of their season, by depleted English and Irish teams... then beat the ABs the next week.... and then an Aussie player said "if the RWC was held next week we'd back ourselves to win it"... how may of you would be getting stuck in to them on this site (Melkdave... be honest).
Posted 14:23 18th February 2013