England have a Rugby World Cup hierarchy complex: the underdogs every opponent will treat like a favourite.
Head coach Steve Borthwick would love to take a squad to France tipped to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, but England sit sixth in the world rankings and can have no complaints, especially after three straight defeats.
Yet, Owen Farrell believes England can harness any old status for a psychological edge, the captain focusing solely on handling tournament pressure.
The trouble is, every opponent loves to hate England: the anthem, the history, the perceived haughtiness. Even an average England are still favourites in the eyes of all of those who would relish taking a scalp.
The combination could be lethal unless England can find fluency, balance and rhythm — and fast. In just 32 days, England will kick off their World Cup campaign against Argentina in Marseille.
The Pumas toppled Eddie Jones's side at Twickenham in November, and while Borthwick's true England are yet to be revealed, Argentina will beat any iteration that is not purposeful, incisive and ruthless. Farrell obviously had Argentina on his mind when proposing his own views on the World Cup pecking order.
"If we go in as favourites or go in under the radar, we'll use it to our advantage either way," he said. "We're working away quietly. Tournament rugby is a lot about pressure. It's bigger than anything you usually play in and there's a lot of outside noise.
"The big thing is controlling what's happening in camp and not worrying about the external factors which don't really matter. You go into World Cups and people talk about favourites and say, 'It's theirs to lose' — but that's not how sport works. Just look at the football World Cup, when Argentina lost to Saudi Arabia."
This team has the potential to do something they’ll be very proud of.
La Albiceleste might have lost that group game, but they still went on to lift the trophy in Qatar.
Ireland, hosts France, New Zealand and South Africa will start the latest quest for global rugby glory ahead of the rest of the pack. England have precious few luxuries after a four-year cycle spent mostly in reverse.
"Going into any World Cup, you want to be the best team in the world," said Borthwick. "Ranked No1, the favourites. That's what Ireland have right now. Our situation is different, but we're going to work very, very hard to ensure that we are tactically very astute in games and physically uncompromising."
Borthwick then invoked England's class of 2007 when eyeing a surprise showing in France next month.
The 43-year-old was part of the England squad 16 years ago that drove all the way to the final in France, yet his presence at the 2007 tournament made that reference now all the more curious.
England's recovery from a 36-0 pool-stage thrashing by South Africa to reach the final was driven by player power. Then-head coach Brian Ashton was marginalised, as senior players drew up their own gameplans and promptly reached the final, where they met the Springboks again. A rejuvenated England ran South Africa all the way in that re-match, only to lose out 15-6.
"I know from first-hand when a team gets itself into a tournament, like in 2007," said Borthwick. "I think this team has the potential to do something they'll be very proud of."
England's players powered their own run the last time the World Cup was in France. Borthwick the coach would never countenance a similar mutiny, so now it is on him to generate real momentum.
