ENGLAND leave for Australia today in the unusual position of being, in the eyes of many, favourites for the World Cup.

If they are to become the first northern hemisphere country to lift the trophy, they will need their captain, Martin Johnson, to be at his best.

England are stronger today than at any other stage, but their World Cup prospects will still hinge upon the fitness of two players - Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson.

Without that pair, they are still a very good side, but they are also more vulnerable.

I first came across Johnson 10 years ago during the Lions tour to New Zealand. He arrived as a replacement for the injured Martin Bayfield and he was then as he is today: monosyllabic, focused and a man for whom rugby is about playing, rather than talking.

There was no emotion about him, perhaps reflecting the two years he had spent playing rugby in New Zealand as a teenager.

He was driven by the will to succeed and it is no surprise that he has gone on to become one of the most important players of his generation.

Even though I have been on three Lions tours with him, we have probably not exchanged more than 20 words, which usually start and end with hello.

I became friends with a number of the England players, especially Jason Leonard and Lawrence Dallaglio, but Jonno was never more than a nodding acquaintance.

There was widespread surprise when he was made captain of the Lions in 1997 because he had never appeared to be a leader, but he turned out to be the perfect choice.

He did not say much before or during matches and was happy to delegate to others, like me, who were only too willing to say their bit.

He preferred to lead by example, putting his head where others thought twice, getting his hand on the ball on the floor to prevent release, badgering the referee and acting as a fourth official, barging his way in the line-out, quick to step in at the first sign of trouble and always there when needed.

A man you would be happy to go to war with.

He has blended the old-fashioned virtues of a second row, dirty hands and strength in the set-pieces, with the demands of the modern game.

Johnson is perpetual motion, prominent around the field in defence and offence. He has come to personify England, a team which does not take a backward step.

I have no idea what he is like to socialise with because he never made the effort. He has no small talk and I do not know if he has a sense of humour, yet you never hear anyone speaking badly of him. He is a player who commands total respect.

He will ensure that England are focused in Australia. The only thing that is missing from his medal cabinet is the one which says World Cup. He was won everything with Leicester, he has led England to a grand slam and captained the Lions to victory in South Africa.

This will be his last shot at the World Cup, though I would not be surprised if he harboured ambitions of a fourth Lions tour when New Zealand comes around in 2005.

He is playing as well as always, with neither fitness nor motivation a problem for him, but he knows he only has one more chance of getting his hands on the Webb Ellis Trophy.

Some of England's opponents will look to use England's strength as a source of weakness by needling Jonno and getting him to react as he has done in the past but, despite his reputation, he is very cool and knows how to make his mark on the blind side of the camera.

England have not had the smoothest ride to the top: they only won the grand slam at the fourth attempt and they have been accused of being chokers, but they are not the No 1 side in the current world rankings for nothing.

They have learned how to dispose of weaker opponents ruthlessly and they are at their best in the big matches when things are nip and tuck.

They have only lost one of their last 16 internationals and they are unbeaten at Twickenham since the last World Cup.

Jonno and Jonny Wilkinson are big factors in that impressive record and they will be the key men in the coming weeks.

I would not begrudge England winning the World Cup because it would be good for the game in Europe - and it might even yield a smile from Martin Johnson.