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
OzinLondon says...
rugby_rockstar
So you watched the Brumbies v Qld and are now a bit dismissive of Aus rugby (or maybe SH rugby).
I would have thought the best gauge (rather than a first round derby match where the players were rusty) was when England lost on successive weekends to severely depleted Wallaby and Springbok sides... I also would have thought that was a good reason for a player not to start talking about winning a RWC "if it were held tomorrow".
Oh, I forgot... those matches never happened as far as the English team, press and fans are concerned.
Posted 14:20 18th February 2013
lawynd says...
@RugbyLocos - engage your brain and think about contexts; are you telling me there's a team or player out there who WOULDN'T back their team to win the RWC? If they didn't there wouldn't be much point in turning up, would there?
There really are some plonkers on this site.
Posted 13:23 18th February 2013
melkdave says...
@Porridge_Time
I dont blame Halfpenny or Beattie for being confidant,but they are talking about a current championship,being played now.So their words carry alot more meaning,and can be used against them by other teams ,for motavation..Maler ect are talking about a championship,over 2 years away,and have given an answer that any player of a major nation or even teir 2 would give,also their words will be long forgotton by the time the RWC arrives,and cant be used against them ,Thats the differance
Posted 12:08 18th February 2013
Spartacus says...
@APV1 - I agree that Marlers words are being misinterpreted (or not read), but he is a fool if he did not realise this would be the case. The world will jump on any perceived English arrogance and magnify it, just like they will magnify Samoan high tackles, South Africa rough tactics, and "beautiful running Welsh rugby".
Posted 11:21 18th February 2013
RugbyLocos says...
Total contradiction for starters;
How can you be world beaters tommorrow when you have plenty of work to do by 2015 ???. Do England have a time travel machine???.
And shave off that stupid beard if you want to be taken at all seriously.
Posted 10:39 18th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
We love it Kiwilad, we put it down to envy. ;) I couldn't resist.
Posted 10:32 18th February 2013
APV1 says...
@ melkdave - this is just another opportunity for PR to stir the pot and inflame the Anti-English Brigade. They don't read past the words or consider the context. They don't even comprehend the words, let alone consider the whole picture.
Let them be. They will always want to bash us. Just see kiwilad's nonsense:
"Why do English Rugby players insist on making it impossible to warm to them?
Or do they enjoy being part of the most disliked side on the planet?"
Why does he hate us? Because we beat NZ and are focused on the RWC. Because we're doing OK, but have a lot further to go. Because we're making progress, trying to peak in 2015.
Just like every other team in the world, except most haven't beaten NZ recently. And we're England.
Bless 'em. They're obviously too dumb to see past the obvious.
Posted 10:09 18th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
Scrum poacher,
Yeah, I watched ACT Brumbies vs Queensland Reds... Scary. :)
Posted 09:44 18th February 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
"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."
Its called optimism. we're a hopeful breed. But still. Joe now has an excuse never to give another interview for the rest of his career. lets hope he takes the opportunity, because he's allowed the media to stitch England up a treat with his dumb naivity.
Posted 09:42 18th February 2013
porridge_time says...
melkdave...
Feel the need to ask again... how come Beattie and Halfpenny should not show confidence going forward after wins by their respective countries... but it's acceptable for the two similar comments from English players showing confidence...
Personally I think three6three6 hits the nail on the head... players really need to learn how to sidestep that particular line in sensationalise journalism.
Posted 09:42 18th February 2013
BWJC says...
kiwilad - not in it to be loved son, as the saying goes everyone hates us and we don't care!
Good to see the whinging AB brigade out in force - oooh we were ill (again?) and a bit tired so thats why we lost! Your boys should start taking some vitamin C supplements maybe they wouldn't be so poorly!
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.
Posted 09:11 18th February 2013
kiwilad says...
Why do English Rugby players insist on making it impossible to warm to them?
Or do they enjoy being part of the most disliked side on the planet?
Posted 07:24 18th February 2013
melkdave says...
Profesional sportsmen /women will allways back themselves to win champonships.or set personnal bests ect Its part of their nature.If they didnt ,then just what is the point of them turning up or training .Both players have sressed that there is alot of work for them to do ,and they arnt world beaters or the finished article .How that can be construded as arrogant is baffaling.Ask an aussie player the same question he would say exacatly the same thing,same for welsh,irish,scottish,or any major nations players.Wish posters would grow up a little ,and realise this.
Posted 06:22 18th February 2013
three6three6 says...
Journalists should not be asking questions about a team's preparedness to win a tournament in 2015.... and those being interviewed should simply say "next question please" when asked about 2015.... 2015 is completely irrelevant!
A better test of England's real capability might be to look at the situation after next year¿s 6 Nations Championship. Then we will have seen two 6 Nations and two Autumn series under Lancaster and his team.
I think England will prove their critics wrong - they have the personnel, they have the stabiility (now) within the RFU.... there is no reason why they will not be a force to be reckoned with by 2015.... the best thing that they could do is schedule a short tour to New Zealand in 2014.
Posted 04:39 18th February 2013
Golden_statenba says...
England played very well against the ABs but how come they hardly play the ABs away?
I would like to see how well they would play in NZ v the ABs.
Maybe in a 3 test series as the Irish did last year.
Anyway we will see again in England at the end of the year but the English players should know that talk is just that
Posted 23:16 17th February 2013
porridge_time says...
melkdave says...
Again players getting carried away and shouting the odds.Why oh why cant they just be quitely confidant ,and not give motavasion to others.Halfpenny,Beattie whos next i wonder.
Melkdave... looks like won of your own shipmate! You have to give him credit for setting his sights high... an England Trumpet Blowing article if ever there was one.
Posted 22:39 17th February 2013
hemip says...
Lol...
Posted 20:18 17th February 2013
ABasquefan says...
The poms always complain about the rest of the world branding them as arrogant but, what do they expect with this kind of comments? They have done nothing yet, just one win over a weakened AB team coming from illness at the end of a long season and 2 other wins in the 6N, and they are talking of winning the WC. Totally out of place
Posted 20:07 17th February 2013
scrumpoacher says...
If it started tomorrow the SH teams would walk all over them-pre season has just finished down there. Fresh legs all round... Just saying
Posted 11:39 17th February 2013