Video - World Cup: Home comforts will only benefit England - Woodward

England open their Pool A account by facing Fiji at Twickenham on Frida, September 18 in a group dubbed the ‘group of death’ as it also contains Wales and Australia.

But Woodward is confident Stuart Lancaster’s team will have a sigbnificant advantage by playing on home soil.

“Someone’s got to come to Twickenham and beat England,” said Woodward.

“England had a strut about them on Saturday (against Ireland).

“We know they play well at Twickenham, and we saw with the Olympic Games what home advantage can do.

“Playing at home is a really big deal for England.

“This next few weeks will change their lives, one way or the other.

“Never, ever will they have a chance as good as this World Cup to do something special.”

Woodward also claims France should still be aggrieved about losing 8-7 to hosts New Zealand in the 2011 World Cup final.

“If I had been the coach of France in that World Cup, I would still be apoplectic to this day,” he added.

“If that final had been refereed properly, France would have won.”

Woodward also handed current boss Lancaster some words of advice ahead of the global battle, citing social media as a potential chief pitfall.

“It’s the new enemy,” the 59-year-old said.

“We didn’t have to worry about it in 2003.

“I’ve had the conversation with Stuart Lancaster.

“Don’t let the players be distracted. It could be the media, their family, sponsors, ticket requests, anything.

“One stupid tweet, one ill-judged video out on social media - if you allow one player to be distracted, it can affect the whole team, and it can all come tumbling down.”

England have reportedly handed their World Cup squad social media guidelines, keen to avoid any unnecessary distractions.