The world champions are on their worst run of results for two decades having lost their last five Tests.

They have only a 42 per cent success rate in the three years since beating Australia to win the Webb Ellis trophy in Sydney.

To make matters worse, injuries mean England head coach Andy Robinson has this week been without 23 of his 40-man elite squad for the first training camp of the season at Loughborough University.

The state of the squad could not be in starker contrast to this time four years ago when Sir Clive Woodward was masterminding the 2003 World Cup campaign.

They beat Australia and New Zealand at Twickenham in November 2002, won the 2003 Six Nations Grand Slam and then completed historic victories over the All Blacks and Wallabies on enemy soil.

England cannot buy a victory at present though and Leonard admits the odds on a successful World Cup defence in France are growing "longer and longer".

Yett the world's most-capped prop, and veteran of four World Cups, two finals and one winners' medal, insists all is not lost.

"The perfect build-up to a World Cup is what England had in 2003 when we won 18 out of 19 Tests," he said.

"The only game we lost was by a point to France in Marseille.

"But that is not always necessary. I have seen Australia win the World Cup in 1991 and South Africa in 1995.

"Before the 1991 World Cup, Australia were getting thumped by everybody. Two years prior to South Africa winning the 1995 World Cup, they were getting beaten by everybody as they came out of isolation.

"Those performances prior to 2003, when England had that great run, has now made a rod for our own backs. And three years on from the World Cup we are still in a transitional period.

"Yes, they are up against it because their performances since the World Cup have not been good enough.

"The players have underperformed - but I know they are great players.

"They may not feel like it at the moment after their performances for England last year - but I know they can perform.

"Would I bet against England? No."

Leonard also lent his backing to Martin Corry as England's World Cup captain.

Corry was rested for the summer tour of Australia, when Pat Sanderson stood in, and Robinson is yet to confirm his skipper for the autumn international series.

It is a tough decision as not many of the England side, especially those considered leadership material, are shoo-ins for selection.

Steve Thompson and Steve Borthwick are both injured at present and Lawrence Dallaglio is on his way back from an ankle operation.

Jonny Wilkinson, who Robinson named his first England captain in 2004, has still not pulled on the red rose since the World Cup final.

But, after his summer off, Corry has started the new season with a bang and Leonard believes he has the credentials to lead England into the World Cup.

"I think Cozza is a person who leads by example. He is an open and honest person. The players rally round him," said Leonard.

"He is a world-class player and wears his heart on his sleeve, which is a good thing for an England captain.

"He always looks bashed up but he is that sort of person. He is not scared of anything. He will put his head where other people wouldn't put their feet."

However, a team is about everybody putting their hands up, and about the vice-generals just as much as the general, as Leonard pointed out.

"It doesn't just come down to Martin," he said. "In 2003, we had the best captain in the world but we also had Matt Dawson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Phil Vickery, Neil Back. It is not all dependant on the captain."