England yet to reach peak but could still win World Cup, says Rob Andrew
Friday 4 September 2015 11:45, UK
Rob Andrew believes the current group of England players have not yet reached their peak, but feels they could still win the World Cup on home soil.
England head coach Stuart Lancaster has selected a number of inexperienced players in his squad for the tournament, which kicks off at Twickenham on September 18.
The midfield and wing areas are largely untested and inexperienced, with rugby league convert Sam Burgess among those who are still to prove themselves at international level.
But RFU Professional Rugby Director Andrew is convinced they will grow as a unit in years to come and would not be surprised to see them lift the Webb Ellis Trophy this year.
"Is this team going to peak at this World Cup? I don't know. I doubt it, to be honest," Andrew told the Daily Telegraph.
"I suspect this team will get better over the next two or three years. I don't think there's any question of that, because the age profile and the experience profile is going to grow.
"That doesn't mean, today, it's not going to be good enough, or have the experience to win this World Cup. World Cups are about momentum and letting it grow."
England do boast experience in a number of key areas, though, with forwards Dan Cole and James Haskell and scrum-half Danny Care having already clocked up over a half-century of caps apiece.
Care's fellow No 9 Ben Youngs looks likely to join them in passing the 50-cap mark during the World Cup but Andrew says even the younger members of the 31-man group have enough big-match nous to play their part in the upcoming tournament.
"They've gained significant experience over the last three years," added Andrew.
"They've beaten New Zealand, they've beaten Australia, drawn with South Africa in South Africa, been to Cardiff and won, been to Cardiff and lost pretty heavily, been to Dublin and won, been to Dublin and lost.
"They've got a fair few scars on the way through. Every team has that. We all make mistakes. The key is not to repeat them."
Watch England take on Ireland in their final World Cup warm-up game on Saturday. Coverage begins on Sky Sports 1 at 2pm, or watch without a contract on NOW TV for just £6.99
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