It may not come as a major surprise, but World Cup-winning former England coach Clive Woodward is happy to wager a few of his hard-earned pounds on his compatriots claiming a second World Cup crown.

Woodward said there is no reason why England can't claim victory at this year's tournament in New Zealand, despite the squad's spate of injuries and some disappointing performances in the warm-up games.

Woodward, who was coach when England lifted the Webb Ellis Cup - their only success - in 2003, is still very much a rugby man, even though he now operates under the title of Director of Elite Performance for the British Olympic Association.

And he told journalists at a Sports Journalists' Association lunch in Fleet Street that Martin Johnson's men should not be written off.

"They have a good draw and everything is going for them. They have to remember that they are not there to entertain just to make sure they score more points than the opposition

"They have to be focused from the very first game because in World Cups you cannot lose a single game. I don't think any country has gone on to win the World Cup having lost a match along the way.

"New Zealand are hot favourites, of course, and it might be wrong to bet against them, because favourites tend to win.

"The one team who always seem comfortable playing New Zealand is Australia but they have to get past England first and I can't see that happening."

Woodward is still very much an England cheerleader despite being on the sidelines of a game in which he won 21 international caps at centre before running the team for seven years as head coach.

The 55-year-old may be lost to rugby for the meantime, but don't rule out a return in the future. It won't, however, be as Chief Executive of the RFU, a position for which he was touted earlier this year.

"I have promised people, not least my family, that I will not be Chief Executive of the RFU, or anyone else for that matter. It's just not in my skillset."