All Blacks are England's only threat
According to English centre and World Cup-winner Mike Tindall, only the All Blacks stand in the way of England winning the World Cup.
Speaking to PA Sport, Tindall said that after a strong Six Nations showing earlier in the year, England would benefit from the home support they would enjoy as host nation.
"If I put my hand on my heart I don't see England losing," Tindall said.
"With the home advantage, and the leaps and bounds they made at the Six Nations, they are in a really good spot right now.
"Their strength in depth, especially through the pack, is incredible and now they have a backline that is backing them up."
England's high level of performance and consistency should see them get to the final, Tindall said, writing off the challenges that Australia and Wales pose in the group stages.
If England top their pool they would only meet New Zealand in the final and if they finish second in their 'pool of death' they will be likely to face South Africa in the quarterfinals and then the All Blacks in the semifinal.
"You would put money on New Zealand being there to face them and then it is just a one-off game, but England have that game to beat
them," he said, already assuming England will line-up against New Zealand in the final.
them," he said, already assuming England will line-up against New Zealand in the final.England are currently in Denver, Colorado for an altitude-based preparation for the World Cup with coach Stuart Lancaster reducing his squad.
It would be important that the right balance was found for the camp, he said.
Tindall was involved in four World Cup campaigns, as vice-captain of the 2011 side which England exited in the quarterfinals. England's camps ahead of the 2003 Cup victory, and the 2007 event where they reached the final, had been ideal but the 1999 and 2011 camps had been very hard.
"In Denver you will get that altitude training and with that the extra kick into the warm-up games and then hopefully get your match fitness through those games.
"No stone will be unturned. They are going to work hard, but as long as they are not overworked they will be in a really good spot," he said.
Former Welsh and British and Irish Lions wing Shane Williams said there was a lot of pressure on England to be successful at the World Cup.
"They are playing in their own back yard. They have got a good squad so England expect them to do well and probably more so than the Welsh side. The pressure is on England more than it is Wales," he said.
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Posted by adidas Rugby on Sunday, 12 July 2015
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