Do you agree?

Defending champions Australia and traditional rivals New Zealand - who have won three World Cups between them - will go into next year's tournament as favourites.

But Marshall insists England and France have a real chance of ending the southern stranglehold on the Webb Ellis trophy on Australian soil.

However, Wales coach Steve Hansen, whose team will face New Zealand in Pool D, has tipped the All Blacks to win the trophy.

Who are you tipping to take the title?

This England team is severely over-rated by the press as they rack up big scores against poor opposition. They have not got the fluency or invention in the back division to create chances against the best teams in the world. For me, South Africa and Australia are the clear favourites, with New Zealand and France as outside bets.

It is time for the English media to realise England's true place in the rugby world - fifth best. If they get to the semis, it will only be because two of the big teams are playing each other.
Gary, Leeds

I don't think that any Northern Hemisphere team is going to upstage the Aussies at home. Sure they look good in the Six nations but really when it comes down to it the Southern Hemisphere is far the better rugby playing nations.

I can't see anyone beating the Aussies at home, something about them has me thinking they will retain the Cup in 2003. They are just too good, playing at home will give them the advantage, and unlike England the Aussie rises to the occasion. The French could make the final but even they will not win.
Gary, Canada

Forget about England. They have never sent a full strength team to tour the South in my lifetime. If they don't expose their best players to Southern Hemisphere rugby how on earth do they ever expect to win the World Cup down there? Don't fool yourselves England. You've only got as far as you have by avoiding putting yourselves to a really serious test.
Paul Allen, Singapore (ex NZ)

I'll be very surprised if New Zealand don't win the Rugby World Cup. They'll be peaking at the right time. They will win their group and will play England in the next round (England will finish second to South Africa in their group). Therefore the last four will probably be Australia, France, New Zealand, South Africa. So England won't do any better than Ireland, Wales or Scotland. With an ageing England side I wouldn't be surprised if they were to finish as the worst British and Irish nation.
Guto, Wales

To beat the Southern Hemisphere sides England will have to be at their absolute best. This means that we must have our top players fit and healthy. The England management, but more importantly the clubs, must realise that the players should not be over played in 2003. It worries me that we are still looking at playing the league, English cup, Heineken Cup and the dreaded Zurich Championship play-offs in a World Cup year.

The clubs must understand that if England get well beaten in the quarter finals because they were injured or tired this will effect the game in England and thus the clubs profits. If we win - the sky's the limit.
Steve, England

England can win, but so can France, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia. New Zealand and South Africa have shown that they can win on Aussie soil, but in recent memory, the Europeans have not shown that they have what it takes.

If France can perform like they have in recent months in any environment, they will definitely be one of the favourites. France's upcoming tour of Australia will be a real indication of where they stand. Out of four world cups, two have been won by the host nation. Home advantage is important.
Sully, Australia

The most open World Cup ever? Get real. It's going to be Australia or New Zealand with England at an outside chance. If England beat South Africa and get the easy route to the final, they can win. If not, it's Australia.
Andrew, New Zealand

Anything can happen between now and then, any one of six teams can win it with a bit of luck. I expect Australia will win it (unfortunately) - they have the ability to score tries at will and have been consistently brilliant.
James Sykes, England

Which country has the best record over the last two World Cups, i.e. since they have been in them? The Springboks have been winners and third, beating the All Blacks twice. Watch out for the Boks in 2003.
Greeg, Poland

It's got to be Wales. The law of averages means we have to win something soon, so don't discount us from upsetting a few teams to be in the final four. Then it only takes another Wembley '99 (you know the one) and we're home and dry.
David, Wales

Marshall doesn't believe France and England have a chance of taking the World Cup - he's simply making broad statements that will play to the media to improve his exposure in the UK.
Mike Pethig, New Zealand

When will you English learn? You are not the best team in the world, in fact nowhere near it. France are by far the best team in the Northern Hemisphere and by the time the World Cup comes, they'll be even more dominant.
Iain Kerr, Scotland

Once again, South Africa, Australia and the All Blacks are playing at Twickenham at the end of this year. England are too scared of the inevitable hiding they would get to even contemplate playing tests down under. Come the World Cup next year and it'll be down to the southern hemisphere teams with England and France making the quarter finals.
Matt Hunt, New Zealand (in UK)

This is a tournament, so the team with the strongest mental strength and discipline will win it. Experience means everything in these circumstances and I am sorry, the Northern Hemisphere countries just don't have it.
Ted, France

Next year's World Cup? I think you'll find England's Women's team is doing quite well in this year's. Our country is in the World Cup final for a change - but where's the publicity?
T, England

England seem to be reluctant to travel to the Southern Hemisphere, and this will be reflected in the RWC results. If England aren't playing at Twickenham then you can forget them. First rate at home, second rate everywhere else.
Chris Carroll, UK

I'm not prepared to write off Australia until I see how they compete with NZ this year. Everyone should remember they have won the Tri-Nations for the last two years, won the Bledisloe cup against NZ for the last four or so years in and won the British-Irish Lions series last year. OK, so they toured badly at the end of last year but that wasn't the business end of the season for them.
Luke, Ireland

As much as I would like to see Ireland develop into a world class side, they have a long way to go - as we saw in their tactically lacking display against England and lacklustre performances against Scotland and Wales. I don't think the prospect of facing up to Ireland will concern the favourites.
Linda, UK

Ireland have a great chance of winning the Rugby World Cup. They'll beat England in the final.
Wafer Head Kennedy, Ireland

It will be the most open World Cup ever. Australia are still building their team after a number of key retirements. New Zealand are emerging from their recent slump and should be fully competitive by kick-off time. England have shown that they are once again a force in world rugby. France always rise to the occasion in big tournaments. While South Africa are in a state of flux at the moment they have eighteen months to regain their momentum. I can't wait.
Ron Ward, Australia

The three Australian Super 12 teams finished 2nd, 3rd and 5th respectively in the pool rounds with the Brumbies to play the final, and in great form. It would be ridiculous to judge Australia based on end of season tours to the Northern Hemisphere.

In the last few months Australia registered more rugby players than NZ for the first time ever and the ARU is going from strength to strength. If I was a betting person I know where I would put my money. Above all else, let's hope for a great competition.
Peter, Australia

England have not peaked yet. Woodward has done some precision planning, so by the time the World Cup comes around we will be unbeatable and dominate the whole tournament.
Tom Herron, England

Why is no-one talking about the best team in the Six Nations? The Irish play the best rugby in the world, and with our flying backs neither the All Blacks nor the English will be able to touch us. Don't you remember 2001 in Dublin, England? Rule the Irish out at your peril!
Charlie, Ireland

Some maybe surprised to read this from a vehement Wales supporter, but I undoubtedly have to go for England and wish them luck too. They have vast strength in depth and I believe on their day can roundly spank any other side in the world.

The crucial aspect is their character, however. Woodward seems to have assembled a team who seem to make an embarrassing habit of bottling it. It can be amusing at times, but despairing at others... and for God's sake, don't let Austin Healy play at fly-half!! Wales on the other hand...hmmm. I don't think I even want to start contemplating that one.
James, Canada, (ex-Wales)

I honestly believe that the two best sides in the world at the moment are England and France and they are in the best position to develop between now and then. Therefore, I believe that England or France should win with the All Blacks or Aussies capable of an upset on their day.

I don't think the Aussies are good enough, the All Blacks are somewhat of an unknown quantity and South Africa are a dead loss. I think the first northern Hemisphere winner will be unearthed, and I predict that whether it is England or France will depend largely on what happens in the Six Nations next year.
Tim, England

England's loss to France in this year's Six Nations may be the deciding factor behind this World Cup. Now they have no excuse for the arrogance they've shown in previous years following a series of good results in the lead-up to the competition.

France have the easiest route to the semi-final with England or South Africa and I can see them pulling off the big game needed to beat NZ/Aus in the final.

If England earn and win the semi against France with a victory against SA on 18th October then I can see them taking the cup from Australia in the final but not from New Zealand. It's going to be a World Cup won by the team that concedes the least penalties out of SA, NZ, Aus and France. I see France getting it this time around.
Diarmid, France

It just has to be the NZ All Blacks. Far and away a stronger side than any in the southern hemisphere.
James Hannam, UK

Robinson is the difference between England and any other team in the world. When he is inspired, nobody, no team can touch him.
Robert Gray, Italy

On paper England are capable of winning the World Cup but the truth is they will bottle it when the event comes around. Every four years England go into the tournament well prepared but it seems they never have the killer instinct, recent evidence being loss of the Grand Slam. A team capable of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Kajam Maheswaran, England

Definitely not a forgone conclusion as 18 months is a long time. NZ look good out wide but their pack is average. Saying that, they will be keen to stamp their mark this time round after losing their co-host position and having their pride wounded in the process.

Australia will have the home advantage but I feel they are not strong enough to win this time round. France can beat anyone on their day and have an exciting side but lack consistency in their performances to win the tournament. If they make the final again then the result may be different this time round.

England, despite approaching the France game in the Six Nations all wrong, still have one of the most complete sides in the world. Always with massive strength, experience and pace up front and having a slick back division with power pace and invention, they are a good bet to win. They will be going to the southern hemisphere with a point to prove. Jonno will look to step out of International rugby in a blaze of glory and crush all before his mighty heel.
Rich, England

Surprised how many people are going for NZ. While I am quietly confident (and biased) I am not sure what the ABs have done to justify this confidence.

We have a new and still unproven coach, have not won the tri-nations in several years and only managed to record scratchy victories against relative minnows like Scotland and Argentina. We are not exactly setting the world on fire.

While England are playing well, they have yet to prove they can win big games in NZ or Aussie, hence they will struggle.

Watch out for NZ, France, Aussie and SA in the semis. After that it will be a flip of a coin (as France proved last time around). Watch for Argentina providing some shocks in the tournament along the way.
Evan, Kiwi living in UK

England and France will certainly be very strong contenders. I would disagree that England have already peaked. Wilkinson is a long way away from his full potential and Robinson is one of the most exciting runners in the world game.

What is crucial for England is to ensure that the key players remain free from injury, whilst retaining their match sharpness. South Africa will struggle to reach the semis, Australia are certainly beatable but the All Blacks look very strong. I would love to see and England v NZ final, which would be too close to call.
Dan, England

Difficult to predict who'll win the World Cup 2003 seeing as it's 18 months away! I do think, however, that England have peaked over the past 12 months or so, and that they could well be on a downhill slope come next year. I think the WC will have come a year or so too late for them. Key players such as Back, Johnson, Dallaglio, Rowntree, Leonard also have a lot of mileage on the clock as well.

France and New Zealand, however, are maturing nicely and I'm sure Australia will be a lot better by the time the WC comes around, as they've a lot of good young players coming through.

South African rugby is in crisis, and it's hard to see them having much of an impact.

All in all, look no further than New Zealand, France, or Australia, with the All Blacks being the best bet.
Enda Craddock, Ireland

The All Blacks - they have match winning strike power out wide but have neglected the basics in recent years - a pack capable of winning possession. Now, under Mitchell, they will focus on rebuilding the pack. LOOK OUT WORLD!
Tom Jones, UK

With Billy-the-whiz in their team England will win at a canter.
Seneca, England formerly NZ

Unfortunately the Northern hemisphere countries are not up there yet with the Southern hemisphere rugby nations. England and France won't win - NZ look serious contenders to take the title.
Mary Smith, England

With NZ teams performing especially well this season in the Super 12 competition, the All Blacks will be confident going into the Tri-Nations tournament later this year. While the disappointment at losing a sub-host position at the 2003 World Cup is palpable, the net effect will be to spur the team to beat Australia in the semi-finals next October / November.

Of the Northern Hemisphere sides France will be quietly confident and England will feel they too have enough gas in the tank to make the finals. My guess is however that England's day will come only when the sun sets on the dominance enjoyed by the southern hemisphere teams- though they will undoubtedly outpace South Africa in their group.

My tips therefore are for a repeat of the 1987 final with NZ wining by a 20 points margin and thus laying the ghosts of five years ago to rest!
Stewart, NZ