'England are dark horses for big prize'

ENGLAND can be World Cup dark horses who “sneak up” on the rail and gallop off with rugby’s biggest prize.

- GARY FITZGERALD

Tindall's dark horses

Mike Tindall believes that whilst Steve Borthwick’s men proved Six Nations flops again, they still have the potential to get their act together in France and surprise the critics.

A run of four defeats in seven Tests and slumping to sixth in the world rankings has seen England pushed out by the bookies as relative outsiders to rule the rugby globe for a second time.

But 2003 hero Tindall is not giving up hope of a sudden revival when the tournament kicks into life in September.

The former Test centre feels reduced expectation and the fact they sit in the easier side of the draw are bases for optimism.

He insists: “England have had such a disappointing spell of results that they could now actually be in a position where they are pretty much overlooked when it comes to expectations of lifting the trophy.