IN the six years since the International Rugby Board selected England as the host nation of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, thoughts and preparations have been building towards one moment. This evening, at Twickenham, it finally arrives.

England take on Fiji to kick-off the eighth Rugby World Cup, and six weeks of what should be exhilarating competition begins. The tournament, which is the third biggest sporting event in the world in terms of global exposure and spectator levels, pits the 20 best rugby-playing nations against each other in venues up and down England and Wales, which will include St James’ Park in Newcastle.

It is a golden opportunity for rugby to position itself at the very heart of the sporting agenda, but for England head coach, Stuart Lancaster, the objectives are much more focused, although no less grand.

When Lancaster was appointed in the wake of the last World Cup in New Zealand, which saw England lose in the quarter-finals to France after suffering a series of off-field embarrassments, Lancaster was appointed with the primary target of recapturing the Webb Ellis Cup on home soil.

That mission begins tonight, so as England prepare to get underway, what are their prospects of going all the way to the final, which will take place on the same ground on October 31? What are their strengths and weaknesses? And if they don’t finish as champions, who will?

WHAT ARE ENGLAND’S CHANCES OF WINNING THE TROPHY?

The bookmakers make England second favourites behind New Zealand before the tournament kicks off, but that probably reflects the perceived importance of home advantage as much as the hosts’ standing in relation to some of their rivals.

The latest world rankings have England in fourth position, behind Australia and South Africa as well as the All Blacks, and that is arguably a fairer reflection of where they stand.

That said though, they have performed reasonably impressively throughout Lancaster’s reign and will be fielding a balanced side that should offer a decent attacking threat while also displaying the kind of resilience and forward strength that has traditionally been an English trademark.

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Playing at home should be a crucial factor – all but one of England’s games will be staged at Twickenham – and, significantly, Lancaster’s squad have avoided the kind of pre-tournament injury crises that have afflicted a number of other sides. Things might look different after tonight, but odds of 9-2 about England winning the tournament currently look about right.

WHAT ARE THEIR MAIN STRENGTHS?

As previously stated, playing on home soil has to be to England’s advantage, and unlike in the football World Cup, where host nations have tended to spread their own games around, the organisers of the current tournament have unashamedly based England at Twickenham.

To a certain degree, Lancaster’s first-choice XV has come together at the final minute, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, and the new-look backline certainly boasts plenty of potential match winners.

Mike Brown is an excellent full-back, Jonny May is in the form of his life on the wing, Jonathan Joseph has emerged as the creative centre England have been crying out for and, on his day, George Ford can be as inventive a scrum-half as there is in the world.

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The forward pack should dominate the lesser opposition, and achieve at least parity with the world’s best. Skipper Chris Robshaw’s leadership qualities could also be a crucial asset.

WHAT ARE THEIR KEY WEAKNESSES?

A lack of big-game experience would have to be a worry. Only two of tonight’s starting line-up were involved at the last World Cup, so a lot of players will be learning on the job when it comes to handling this kind of environment.

England’s forwards have displayed a worrying level of inconsistency over the last couple of years, and whereas the set-pieces could once be relied upon to provide a solid attacking platform, England’s line-out in particular is now prone to malfunction.

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The back division is still developing as a unit, and there has to be a fear that some of the key partnerships in the team are not as cohesive as they should be heading into a major tournament.

England’s recent record under pressure is also not great. They were demolished in Wales in 2014 as they attempted to claim a Grand Slam, and suffered a heavy defeat in Ireland in this year’s Six Nations.

HOW WILL TONIGHT’S GAME GO?

England should win it, but anyone expecting a romp by 30 or 40 points could well be disappointed.

Sporting history suggests the opening game of a World Cup does not always go to plan, especially when the hosts are involved and attempting to deal with a huge weight of expectation.

Fiji are limited but dangerous opponents, liable to ship points at any minute but also boasting an explosive counter-attacking ability that could punch holes in the English defence. If nothing else, their muscularity will prevent England’s players from being able to ease themselves into the tournament.

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Clearly, a win is the first requirement, but with Wales up next a week tomorrow, a positive performance to generate momentum would also be welcome. Keeping key players fit is another important objective.

IF NOT ENGLAND, WHO ELSE?

New Zealand start as favourites as they attempt to retain the trophy they won on home soil in 2011, and their record over the last four years suggests they are the strongest side in the competition. Their hardest group game comes first as they take on Argentina at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

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Australia, who are in England’s group, have been steadily improving, and with Israel Folau leading the charge from full-back, the Wallabies could be peaking at just the right time. Their pool game with the hosts on October 3 should be a cracker.

South Africa complete the Southern Hemisphere triumvirate that has tended to dominate previous tournaments, and as ever, their key strength is their physicality in the pack. They are in Scotland’s pool, and start against Japan tomorrow.

Of the other Northern Hemisphere sides, Ireland will be looking to build on their Six Nations success and improve on a dreadful World Cup record that has seen them fail to reach the semi-finals on all previous seven occasions. They open their campaign against Canada tomorrow afternoon.

France , who face Italy tomorrow night, will be their usual unpredictable selves, while Wales, who take on Uruguay on Sunday, will have to knock out either England or Australia to progress to the last eight. That’s a big ask, particularly after they lost arguably their two best players to injury earlier this month.