England's expectations grow as World Cup kicks off

England launch the 20-nation Rugby World Cup against Fiji on Friday with the promise of a multi-million dollar bonus if they win for the second time as rugby fever gripped the country.

While New Zealand remain favourites to become world champions for a second time in a row, pressure mounted on England ahead of the opening game at Twickenham in front of a fervent 82,000 crowd.

Thousands gathered in the town's pubs in the London suburbs ahead of the game. Authorities had appealed to local people to take a day off to ease London's notorious Friday night commuter traffic.

More than 2.3 million tickets -- a World Cup record -- have been sold for the 48 matches and some touts sought more than 10 times the face value of tickets for the opening ceremony and England-Fiji clash.

World Rugby president Bernard Lapasset said 2015 will be "the most successful" World Cup ever.
In a sign of the means England is putting into the campaign, the Daily Telegraph reported that England's players will share a £6 million ($9.3 million) bonus if they go on to win the World Cup at Twickenham on October 31.

It is the biggest reward ever offered to a national team to win the Cup. A player would receive more than £216,000 if he took part in all seven matches and England won the tournament.

- No guarantee -

"There are some great teams out there and I can't promise you success," said England flanker Tom Wood.

"All I can say is that we've left no stone unturned in terms of our preparation. We have absolutely given everything to the cause, put ourselves through absolute torture in the gym and on the field."

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen called for a fair deal from referees as he targeted World Cup history.

"All we want is for them to be consistent," Hansen said after naming a full strength squad for the All Blacks first match against Argentina at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
No team has won back-to-back World Cups and the All Blacks, winners in 1987 and 2011 and undisputably the world's best team, have never won it away from home.

But Hansen said if the referees are fair to all sides, and the All Blacks are not enveloped by the over-confidence that has ruined previous missions abroad, then there is no reason why it cannot happen this time.

Both of the two previous All Black triumphs have been on home soil. And they have made a habit of struggling against France in particular at the World Cup.

They have lost twice to the French and beat them by a single point in the 2011 final.

Star fly-half Dan Carter, 33, will make his last appearances in an All Black shirt hoping to be part of history.

Carter has struggled with injury in recent years.
He told AFP: "There were times in those four years that I questioned whether I'd be here, but the body is good, it's exciting to be here and it's going to be my last World Cup so I'm just wanting to do whatever I can to help this team perform."

Australia, ranked second in the world, South Africa, Wales, Ireland and France are also out to spoil England and New Zealand's party.

Australia, rejuvenated by coach Michael Cheika and with one of the star players in Israel Folau, are one of the form teams coming into the World Cup.

They inflicted New Zealand's last defeat to win the Southern Hemisphere's four-nation Rugby Championship in August.

Australia start the tournament next Wednesday against Fiji at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

"There's a great level of self-belief within the group, not only collectively but also individually," said Wallabies winger Drew Mitchell.
Source: AFP