Ben Cohen's try was the turning point in the match More pictures from Melbourne

England coach Clive Woodward says Australia are the favourites to lift the World Cup despite their defeat in Melbourne.

Woodward, delighted by England's first ever win on Australian soil in 40 years of trying, played down its impact on October's showpiece event.

"They know how to peak at the right time, they're the team to beat come the World Cup," said Woodward.

Skipper Martin Johnson was also low key about England's victory, which came just seven days after they toppled the mighty All Blacks in Wellington.

"Australia had a lot of guys missing so we wish them luck for their season - the big prize comes later in the year," the 6ft 7ins lock told the crowd after leading his side to a momentous 25-14 victory.

But Woodward conceded that the back-to-back wins were important milestones in England's World Cup preparation.

World Cup odds from William Hill New Zealand: 13/8 favourites England: 2/1 Australia:3/1 France:8/1 South Africa: 16/1 Others: Ire 25/1, Arg 66/1, Sco and Wales 125/1

"We've been throwing the kitchen sink at trying to make this the best team in the world.

"I don't care about the favourites tag. I've put as much pressure on this group of players as any coach.

"We've built all the games up massively - the Ireland game, the New Zealand game and this one.

"It's all about how you react under pressure."

The England coach said the results put even more pressure on his men to deliver in October.

"There will be 19 countries at the World Cup who do not want England to win so we have really got to keep our heads.

"The thing about the World Cup is you have to go with an experienced group of players - and that's what we have now got."

"There was a lot of pressure today - but it will be nothing compared to the World Cup."

England got off to a good start against Australia with tries from Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall.

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But it was Ben Cohen's score that proved crucial after a second-half Australian surge had seemed certain to see England's lead cut to just a few points.

"They'd pegged us back and got to within three points and we knew we needed to be more aggressive and more focused," said Greenwood.

"So if you've got a winger who is 16� stone and runs like the wind then you give it to him and say off you go fellow! What a genius of a try."

Australia hit back with a late consolation try through winger Wendell Sailor but England, who not beaten Australia in Australia since they first tried in 1963, hung on.

Like the rest of the England camp, Greenwood played down the impact of the game on the World Cup form book.

"We have to keep it in the context that this was just a one-off game," he said.

"The result will echo around the world but what that does is put the even more pressure on us."