Within seconds of England's triumph over New Zealand in Wellington in June Clive Woodward had pinpointed the qualities which make his side World Cup favourites.

"Guts, determination, heroics, magnificence," was how Woodward described that win, only the second time England had beaten the All Blacks in their own backyard.

If Woodward is to lift the ultimate prize at Stadium Australia in Sydney in November then the likelihood is that his team will have to produce a carbon-copy of Wellington.

Once the unwieldy early weeks of a ludicrously-long tournament, lasting the thick end of two months, have been negotiated almost certainly it will be England and New Zealand who play out a dramatic finale.

Just as football glory in 1966 would have been unlikely without the early goals and enduring inspiration of Bobby Charlton, England's World Cup hopes would be severely dented without the many facets Jonny Wilkinson, the world's most complete fly-half, brings to the party.

However, while Wilkinson is as near as it comes to being indispensible, the beauty of Woodward's side is that world class players sprout from every position.

Where once perhaps one or two England players at most might have been good enough to get into a southern hemisphere side now every one would be a contender.

The fear, though, is that they have shown their hand too early to New Zealand, who have formidable weapons of their own.

However, it was Carlos Spencer's flawed goal-kicking, in contrast to Wilkinson's excellence, which eventually determined England's triumph in Wellington.

Given their fair share of fortune with injuries, the "guts, determination, heroics and magnificence" identified by Woodward, plus a following wind, is the difference most likely to see England crowned world champions in a major sport for the first time since 1966.

Squad: Stuart Abbott, Neil Back, Ian Balshaw, Kyran Bracken, Mike Catt, Ben Cohen, Martin Corry, Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Dawson, Andy Gomarsall, Paul Grayson, Will Greenwood, Danny Grewcock, Richard Hill, Martin Johnson, Ben Kay, Jason Leonard, Josh Lewsey, Dan Luger, Lewis Moody, Mark Regan, Jason Robinson, Steve Thompson, Mike Tindall, Phil Vickery, Dorian West, Julian White, Jonny Wilkinson, Trevor Woodman, Joe Worsley.