Retired Wales captain Sam Warburton has revealed England will be favourites to win the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, 24 years after beating the Wallabies in extra time in Sydney in 2003. England, who reached the final in 2007 and 2019, were eliminated in the semi-finals of the last World Cup in October by defending champions South Africa with a last-minute penalty from Handre Pollard.

England were criticised for their rough play in that tournament, but they have since upped their game and Steve Borthwick’s team are unlucky to be the losing side in their last two-test series against New Zealand. Following a Six Nations Tournament that ended with third-placed England winning more games (three) than they lost for the first time since they became champions in 2020, this round has loaded up with some new and re-energised players.

The development has caught the attention of Warburton, who captained the British and Irish Lions between 2013 and 2017, and he has now given an optimistic long-term forecast for Borthwick’s revamped squad. “England will undoubtedly be 100 per cent favourites for the next World Cup,” the Canterbury ambassador predicted. “Watching their games against New Zealand in both tests, they’ve only had a couple of tough decisions from the referee, so they’re one comment away from two very good results.

Rassie Erasmus on Sam Warburton’s claims Ireland are the best team in the world

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says he did not pay much attention to Sam Warburton’s comments about Ireland being the best team in the world.

Rassie Erasmus on Sam Warburton’s claims Ireland are the best team in the world

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus says he did not pay much attention to Sam Warburton’s comments about Ireland being the best team in the world.

“The players they have: in international rugby you need big, talented athletes and they have a lot of talented, aggressive athletes. (George) Martin has been a revelation. He had always shown promise in the early stages of his career but since the World Cup he has been world class with Maro Itoje second.

“With (Chandler) Cunningham-South, I always wanted him to start in the Six Nations and now he is. England have a serious team to compete in the World Cup. They will be much better next year and will be competing in the Six Nations.”

Warburton also tagged Marcus Smith as the job following his return to the England number 10 jersey last round in the absence of the injured George Ford. Smith was Eddie Jones’ first-choice outside-half until his sacking in December 2022, but had been trialled as a full-back under Borthwick, who preferred Owen Farrell and Ford as the World Cup outside-half starters.

Following Farrell’s withdrawal from the international scene, Ford was Borthwick’s choice for the 2024 Six Nations Championship but his decision not to tour has reopened the position to Smith, who travels alongside his namesake Fin Smith on the substitutes’ bench.

“What England fans will like about Marcus Smith is that he’s not the same player we saw at Harlequins, although he’s played at times,” Warburton said. “We saw a lot of the Marcus Smith we saw at Quins in both games (against New Zealand). Crosses, ball in hand. Defensively, he’s much stronger than he was a few years ago.

“Marcus Smith is a competent player and he will be the England striker and he has a big problem with Fin Smith. I say problem; it’s not a problem because that’s what coaches dream of but they will have to compete for the same shirt because I don’t think they will fit into the same team.”

• Canterbury ambassador Sam Warburton was speaking as the heritage rugby brand launched its new boot collection, Stampede. To view the collection, click here