England star calls for team to be higher in the rankings before the 2015 Rugby ...

LOOKING AHEAD: Ben Foden talks to sports reporter David Rimmer about the 2015 Rugby World Cup

BEN Foden said hosts England must climb the world rankings a spot to give themselves a launchpad for success in the World Cup 2015.

The tournament runs from September 18 to October 31.

Foden, who played in the 2011 World Cup, said: “We are third [in the World].

For us as a rugby nation our aim is to be number one or two in the world by the time the World Cup comes around.”

Holders New Zealand are big favourites.

South Africa and the likes of France and Wales will also be challenging.

On paper, England’s best hope is a semi-final spot.

But Foden feels that England’s rugby pedigree counts for something.

He said: “It is a big ask. It is about beating the big teams on the big occasions.

“It is something we should be aiming for. England is a massive rugby nation.”

He added: “We have been dwarfed a bit by football, but of all the countries playing rugby I think we have the biggest talent pool.”

England will have their work cut out just to get through the qualifying stages. Their group includes Wales and Australia and only two will go through to the quarter-finals.

Foden said: “We have got a tough group. We have got Wales and we know what they are all about and we have Australia.

“You normally get [just] one top team like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. It is not ideal. It is quite rare and unlucky to be drawn against two top teams but if you are to win the World Cup you have to be prepared to beat everyone. That is the mentality we are going to have.

“Having the World Cup in England is a help and it does not happen often. All the games [England ones] are at Twickenham and up to us to make Twickenham a fortress over the next two years before it comes around.”

However, there are several stages to go through first including two Six Nations tournaments.

The first of them starts in a little more than six weeks.

Foden said: “We had a fairly successful autumn international series with wins against Australia and Argentina and us pushing New Zealand close in the final game.

“We will learn a lot from those fixtures.

“We have the Six Nations coming up which is a very tough competition.”

Foden, who plays his club rugby for Northampton, rates Wales as the favourites.

He said: “They are very strong. They have got a young almost seasoned team.

“They have guys in their team like Alex Cuthbert and George North and [Dan] Lydiate.”

“They are still in their early twenties. They have got about 30-40 caps already. They are a very seasoned team with a lot of youth.”

Article source: http://www.dailystar.co.uk/rugby-league/355557/Sydney-Roosters-appoint-England-rugby-coach-Steve-McNamara

England star calls for team to be higher in the rankings before the 2015 Rugby ...