As the clock ticks down towards Friday's opening game, fans around the globe have been gripped by Rugby World Cup fever. But what do the players themselves make of the quadrennial tournament? ESPN sat down with three of England's front-row contingent to find out...
Who do you think your toughest opponent will be at the World Cup?
Jamie George: I think Wales will be tough. A lot of other people have to travel a long way and based on the recent fixtures I would say they would be the main threat. They'll be very difficult and then we've got Australia as well. But Wales, I'd say, just because of the rivalry between us.
Dan Cole: You'd like it to be in the final. I think every game poses its own unique criteria, if you look at Fiji in the opening game, you don't want to look past that opening game because Fiji have upset us in previous World Cups. They're going to be ready and it's going to be the biggest night of their rugby careers. So, that will be tough.
Joe Marler: I think they'll all be tough games - the England-Wales and England-Australia games will both be tough - but I think the Wales game will be ferocious.
What is your favourite World Cup moment?
JG: 2003, obviously. That's the boring answer. But I think it was more the journey that 2003 team went on; going in as favourites and then struggling against a couple of the teams - Samoa and then going behind against Wales in the quarterfinal. To come through and win that game was pretty special.
DC: England winning the 2003 World Cup. I was 16 at the time and just watching at home, I was new to rugby, had only been playing for a couple of years but that was definitely the best moment.
JM: Obviously '03 winning it, seeing the team winning it and then I quite liked, for comedy in that tournament, when England had too many men on the pitch against Samoa. Also, Jonah Lomu running over Mike Catt.
Who is the best player you have ever played with/against on show at the World Cup?
JG: The Vunipola brothers probably. Their all round game, both of them, they're big lads but they have so many contributions in a game and those contributions have such an impact on that game. I've not seen anything like that for a long time.
JM: Mo Fa'asavalu. Unbelievable bloke.
Best ever World Cup performance
DC: As a player it was probably Dusautoir's effort in the World Cup final last time round against New Zealand. I think what he did was monumental. As a team I'd probably say England in 2003, the fact you go to extra-time against Australia in Australia, I think that's the best performance with everything stacked against you.
JM: Any team that beat Wales. Maybe Samoa in 1991. I was one, I remember it well though.
Funniest World Cup moment
JG: I can't remember exactly which game but Jonny Wilkinson had a kick in front of the posts in 2003 and so everyone had just run back because they knew he was going to get it. I think it might have been against Samoa. And he ended up hitting the post and came back to him, it was 15 on one and didn't exactly go too well for him.
Is there a souvenir you want from the World Cup?
JG: The shirt itself I think has got to be the main thing. That would be a hugely proud moment for me if I manage to pull it on for a game. That would be unbelievable.
DC: We got given a World Cup cap for taking part (in 2011). I think in Maori culture they have certain gem stones they give out, we got given one of them each.
JM: I've haven't really thought about it. I think being there is going to be enough for me.
Winner?
JG: You can't look much further than the home team, can you?
DC: Too difficult to predict. Without being arrogant, I'd back England.
JM: I can't predict a winner because it's very tight.
Dark horse?
JG: I think a lot of the Pacific Island teams have come a long way recently. I think they've got some really strong talent and anything can happen in these World Cups, we've seen it in the past.
DC: Samoa probably. If you look at the players they've got, I know a couple of them from Leicester, and I think a lot of the boys are based in Europe and are very good players. If you look at their results over the last couple of years, they've beaten Wales, taken South Africa close, when they get all their players together they have a very good side.
JM: Uruguay.