Regarded by many as the most likely to break the southern hemisphere’s grip on the Webb Ellis Cup, England guaranteed their place in Rugby World Cup 2003 by reaching the quarter finals of the tournament four years ago, when they were knocked out of the competition by the free-scoring boot of Jannie de Beer.
England have reached the last eight or better in all of the previous Rugby World Cups, their best performance coming in 1991 when they reached the final, only to lose 12-6 to Australia at Twickenham.
Four years later England avenged this defeat in the quarter finals, but their hopes of a second consecutive final were ended when a teenager new to the scene literally ran over them to announce his arrival in the All Black fold. Jonah Lomu.
England were also undone by the brilliance of man in 1999, this time the boot of Jannie de Beer putting them to the sword, his record-breaking five drop goals giving South Africa a 44-21 victory in their quarter final.
Four years on from that defeat and England, who lost to Wales in the quarter-finals of the inaugural event in 1987, have evolved into a side that possesses both strength in the forwards and pace throughout the backline, not to mention a resolute defence.
This all round game has reaped its rewards over the last two years with England finally clinching the elusive Six Nations Grand Slam in March and important psychological victories over Australia and New Zealand on their own soil.
However these results, which took their unbeaten run to 13 Tests, will all be forgotten if England fail to return home with the coveted trophy and banish the disappointment felt by the likes of Will Carling, Rob Andrew, Rory Underwood in 1991.
Martin Johnson, Jonny Wilkinson, Will Greenwood, Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill are key players for England, while Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey offer exciting attacking options from deep and out wide.