World Cup: Clive Woodward has strong views on the subject of laurels: they are for collecting, not resting on.

Yesterday England's victorious coach returned home and, with the most precious prize in rugby sitting in front of him, declared that Saturday's World Cup win marked a beginning rather than an end for his team.

Displaying the cold-eyed ambition that has marked his six years as head coach, Woodward said the world title was a "staging post" en route to a golden age for English rugby.

Eight weeks after his squad left for Australia, Woodward returned to the Surrey hotel where the campaign was plotted and made it plain that his appetite has not been sated by the Webb Ellis Cup.

"We set out a few years ago to be the best team in the world and we've got this World Cup sitting here, so we've done that," he said. "But it's not the end of it for us, we are hoping that this all kicks on now to a real golden age for English rugby."

After savouring a reception at Heathrow from approximately 8,000 people in the early hours of yesterday morning, Woodward said his side's triumph represented a great opportunity for the game. It is down to others to capitalise on it however; his focus remains winning rugby matches.

"Our job is very straightforward, we are here to win Test matches and we've got a fantastic record in the last four years," he said.

"It's up to other people who work within the game to capitalise on the good work done by the team but its clear to me that if the international team is winning and doing well then the game has a better profile. My job is to make sure we win the next Test match and that's what we're pretty good at doing."

For all his modesty Woodward could not resist a barb at Australia, prompted by a reporter from the Sydney Daily Telegraph, the paper that published a Jonny Wilkinson voodoo doll before the final. "England is a passionate sporting country, much more so than Australia in my opinion and I lived there for five years," he said.

Woodward's next opportunity to extend a record that since the 1999 World Cup stands at 42 wins from 47 matches comes on February 15th when England meet Italy in the Six Nations.

The Italian authorities are expecting the world champions to attract a larger-than-average crowd to Rome and are considering moving the game to the 80,000-seat Stadio Olimpico. A decision is expected on December 10th.

It remains to be seen how many of the 31 players Woodward called on in Australia will be available for the Italy game, but he will have been buoyed by the positive noises made yesterday by some of his most experienced players.

The coach said before the final that he wanted the whole squad to be available for selection come the spring, and it seems he may get his wish.

The captain Martin Johnson, (33) said he had not yet made up his mind whether to play on but he indicated he, too, had an appetite for more.

"We've just won the World Cup and there's a lot of emotion going around and you need to make that decision when you've spoken to your family and your coaches. You never want to leave playing for England because its a great thing to do, especially when you are winning, it couldn't be better."

It is a measure of the desire that Woodward has engendered in this squad that, having won the ultimate prize, "Dad's Army" all seem hungry for more.

Neil Back (34) indicated that he wanted to play on in an England shirt, while Matt Dawson, who at 30 will face competition for the number nine shirt before the next World Cup comes around in 2007, was adamant.

"Am I retiring? You must be kidding," said the Northampton scrumhalf. "I'm a spring chicken."

The enthusiasm of the more senior players to continue is in part due to the belief that there has been a shift in the balance of power away from the Southern Hemisphere.

"I think we can be very proud of what the Northern Hemisphere sides have done at this World Cup and there is no doubt that when the next one comes around the focus will be on us," said Lawrence Dallaglio.

In the meantime, Johnson and his colleagues are due back at their clubs this week, with some expected to play in the weekend's Zurich Premiership matches. "We all have to go to work in the morning," said Johnson. "We're professional rugby players. That's what we do."

Guardian Service