England's World Cup rugby squad arrived in Perth with coach Clive Woodward repeating his belief that host nation and defending champion Australia will be the team to beat.

It was a relatively low-key entrance at Perth International Airport - understandable given the 1am touch down, local time - but a small group of English fans cheered every player into the arrivals lounge.

Predictably, England captain Martin Johnson, talisman number eight, Lawrence Dallaglio and fly-half star Jonny Wilkinson received most attention, but all the players were happy to stop and sign autographs.

The 30-man England squad and back-up staff boarded waiting coaches for their 20-minute journey into central Perth, and will give an arrival news conference later today.

Woodward though, whose team have been installed as equal favourite for World Cup glory along with NEw Zealand, had time for some brief comments to assembled journalists and camera crews.

"We are looking forward to the tournament," Woodward said.

"Whoever wins the World Cup has got to beat Australia - they've won it twice, know how to win it, and hold the World Cup.

"I'm sure that Australia will enjoy the pressure of being at home, and we enjoy the pressure of arriving as one of the teams who have come to win it."

England's first match in Pool C is against minnows and tournament new boys Georgia on Sunday week at Perth's Subiaco Oval.

They also face South Africa in Perth, then travel to Melbourne for an October 27 appointment with Samoa and finally Uruguay in Brisbane the following weekend.

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