'It's the best team in the world and we need to be very good

ENGLAND will head into Saturday's first Ashes test against Australia as underdogs, but for Shaun Wane, that sits just fine. In fact, that's just how the Wiganer likes it.

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Written off by most and labelled 'uninspiring' by some, hardly anyone is giving England a chance - a nation who last tasted victory over the Kangaroos in the opening game of the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.

A dominant outfit, the last time a northern hemisphere team beat Australia was Great Britain in Sydney back in 2006. There's no underlining the challenge awaiting England at Wembley.

But that doesn't faze Wane, whose side were also written off against Samoa and against Tonga before having the last laugh with two Test series victories. For England's head coach, in the hot seat now for five years, it all adds fuel to the fire.