This archive report was first published on 25 October 2019.
England's chances of beating reigning Rugby World Cup champions New Zealand in Saturday's semi-final depend on their top players delivering their best, according to former England scrum-half Matt Dawson.
Speaking on BBC 5 Live on Friday, Dawson, who was part of England's World Cup-winning team in 2003, said that if England's world-class players perform well, they will have a good chance of winning.
"England have some world-class players. If that group play to their best, England will win," Dawson said.
He specifically mentioned Maro Itoje, Owen Farrell, Billy Vunipola, Ben Youngs, Manu Tuilagi, and Elliot Daly as players who need to step up their game for England to succeed.
"It starts with individual performance. The front row, Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell are world class. The rest of the team must match that level," Dawson said.
He also praised Eddie Jones's decision to start with Farrell at inside centre and George Ford at fly-half, saying it will give England a creative edge.
"Jones wants to play fast and furious with lots of phases. He sees how New Zealand reorganise as a weakness," Dawson said.
However, Dawson expressed some concern over Ford's reliability under pressure.
"I was surprised that George Ford was recalled. I have the tiniest bit of concern about him playing under the most enormous pressure," Dawson said.
Despite the challenges ahead, Dawson believes fans are in for a treat.
"It's a pressure-cooker environment. For England, it doesn't get any bigger than playing New Zealand for a place in the World Cup final -- it's the stuff of dreams," he said.
