Rob Andrew: World Cup is wide open and England have every chance

Former England fly-half Rob Andrew insists there are several contenders for the World Cup as long as someone can topple New Zealand – and there is no reason why England cannot triumph.

The current RFU professional rugby director reportedly cast doubt on England's chances by stating they had not yet peaked, but he has told Sky Sports News HQ that his comments were taken out of context.

The 52-year-old insists the tournament is "all about the here and now and who gets it right" on the day, and believes there is little to choose between the other top-six nations aside from the All Blacks.

Ahead of England's final warm-up game against Ireland on Saturday, Andrew said: "What I was asked was 'do I think this England team is peaking now?'

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"I don't. I think it's a young England side. If you look at the average age and the average caps in the side, these guys are going to be around for a long time.

"So they are going to improve over the next few years but that doesn't mean they can't win the World Cup. It's about the here and now and who gets it right.

"New Zealand are the favourites – a very experienced side – so someone will have to knock them over, and that's happened before in World Cups. But there's probably not a lot to choose in the other six top-ranked sides – Australia, South Africa, England, Wales, Ireland and France.

"Who's going to perform on the day in those big games? That's what World Cups are about."

England's match with Ireland is live on Sky Sports 1HD from 2.30pm on Saturday and Andrew says "it feels like a big game" despite it being a warm-up.

"It's a big one this because the two warm-up games against France weren't so good," he added.

"England have got to get some basics right that weren't right in Paris. Ireland are coming off the back of a defeat against Wales as well.

"It's not the tournament but both sides will want to perform well. It's a good Ireland team and a strong England one, and it feels like a big game. It's only two weeks out from the tournament."

Watch England's final World Cup warm-up game v Ireland, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 2.00pm