By Gabi Lewis BBC Sport Online, Barcelona

 Sports Talk: Will England go all the way?

There are rumours around the sporting world that England are on course to lift the World Cup for a second time.

But not in Japan and Korea.

Instead, the suggestion concerns the inspirational England women's rugby squad, who launch their campaign in the fourth Women's World Cup against Italy at the Cornella Stadium, Barcelona this week.

Seeded third after finishing thus in the 1998 tournament in the Netherlands, but ranked second on form, Paula George's side are desperate to prove they deserve the billing they have been given.

Bolstered by Lottery funding, several of the England squad have given up their salaried careers to become full-time players and, with the help of their award-winning head coach, Geoff Richards, the investment has paid dividends.

Last summer's 22-17 triumph over defending champions New Zealand at North Harbour Stadium sent shockwaves around the global game.

It was the first time the Black Ferns had succumbed in 10 years and they are still smarting from that defeat.

The two nations are on course to meet again in the May 25 final at the Olympic Stadium.

But after losing their Six Nations crown to France this season, England want to reach the decider in style and add the 2002 crown to their 1994 title.

"The euphoria of beating New Zealand is history," George said. "We were made very much aware of that in the Six Nations. Now we've got to make a new history in this tournament."

Smarting

Kiwi coach Darryl Suasua has commanded that his squad, led once again by hooker Farah Palmer, prove they are the best. He has recalled three past internationals, hauled another out of retirement and selected four uncapped players to join the 15 survivors from 1998.

Their opening game against Germany is the biggest mismatch of the tournament and is likely to serve as a training exercise for Suasua.

England captain Paula George will be hoping for a good start

"Holding up that trophy on May 25 is the ultimate revenge for last year's defeat," Suasua said. "It's not England we're gunning for, it's winning the World Cup regardless of who we play."

With all 16 nations involved in pool rounds and play-offs for final placings, the interest is maintained throughout the two-week tournament.

New Zealand are due to clash with Australia in round two on May 18, unless Wales can overcome the severely under-ranked Wallaroos.

Australia's inaugural World Cup team finished fifth in 1998 and their continued improvement means they can not be written off.

All of which makes Wales' dreams somewhat restricted. Boasting the youngest captain and the most capped player in the World Cup in Mel Berry and Liza Burgess respectively, Wales' can only hope to improve on their rank of ninth.

New girls

Scotland are charged with the task of taking on the unknown in their first pool game in Girona. This year that comes in the shape of the Samoan team.

Only two of the Manu Sina squad play their rugby in Samoa, the rest are New Zealand club players and are expected to be nothing short of uncompromising on their World Cup debuts.

Should the European Cup winners survive, they will face Canada in round two and the Scots will fancy their chances of remaining in the top half of the pecking order after the second round shake-up, with Six Nations whipping boys, Ireland also in pool D.

England veteran Emma Mitchell (left) has a wealth of experience

Quebec forwards Josee Lacasse and Gillian Florence will represent Canada in a third World Cup, but they are in a squad comprising 19 players making their World Cup debuts, including Wasps flanker Raquel Eldridge.

France could upset the odds in pool B. While four-time finalists, the USA, are seeded second, they may be jeopardised by their lack of matches compared to their European and Southern Hemisphere rivals since the last World Cup.

They will need to rely on the sagacity of seasoned players like captain Nancy Fitz and Patty Jervey, who will make her fourth World Cup appearance, if the Eagles are to bounce back from their defeats to Scotland and Canada in 2001 and get anywhere near their 1991 title.

Kazakhstan and the Netherlands make up group B and both minnows will be keen to improve on their respective Bowl (9th place) and Shield (13th place) successes in 1998.

The difference between the haves and the have nots will be played out in England's pool, where Italy and Japan, who return after missing the 1998 tournament and open the World Cup against the host nation, Spain on May 12, will be limited to one of the lesser gongs.