England last night flew to France for their World Cup defence aboard a British Airways jet renamed "Hope and Glory" specially for the occasion.

Given no side has ever successfully retained the Webb Ellis Trophy and England, now ranked a lowly seventh in the world, are 33-1 outsiders most of the public support is based on "hope".

But Brian Ashton's 30-man squad travelled to their base in Versailles with a sense of expectation.

Phil Vickery is determined not to be remembered as a captain who hands back the World Cup - and he insists England will strain every sinew in a bid to repeat the "glory" of 2003.

"I don't look on the tag of defending champions as a burden. We can draw inspiration from it. It inspires me to want to go out there and get the trophy back again," said Vickery.

"My overriding memory of 2003 was the number of people who greeted us at Heathrow (when the team returned from Australia as champions). It was an amazing experience. To have affected people's lives in that way is a real privilege.

"To have had a little taste of what it's about, it is a great buzz for the whole team to go out there with an opportunity to put down the challenge.

"We must have no regrets. I hope no-one in the squad looks back on the tournament with 'if-onlys' or 'could haves' because it is too late then.

"I personally believe we can make a big impact at the World Cup. We are under no illusions how difficult that will be. This team needs to perform. If we can perform properly we can beat some big teams.

"We must give everything we have got and hopefully we can spring a few surprises.

"I don't want to be remembered as the captain who had to give the trophy back. I can guarantee I will give 110 per cent to keep hold of it.

"I am focused on playing for England and captaining my team. I will do that to the best of my ability." Nevertheless, Vickery conceded last month's back-to-back defeats to France were a clear indicator how much England must improve if they are to make history and retain the World Cup.

He said: "The France games proved the level we are at is not good enough. But we are not far away. We will go to France and give a good account of ourselves."

England open their campaign against the United States, in Lens, on Saturday, before tackling South Africa in Pool A's pivotal encounter.

They may have avoided the so-called "Group of Death", but with Samoa and Tonga also on the horizon, England face arguably the most physical route to the quarter-finals.

"It is going to be intense, but everyone is looking forward to it. We have all worked extremely hard," said Vickery.

"There has been so much talk about the World Cup, but ultimately as a team you just want to get on with it.

"Playing for the Lions is very special but, in our sport, the World Cup is the ultimate competition.

"America this weekend will up their game because they are playing England and it will be a big game for us.

"We need to be mentally and physically right. The reality of it all is happening pretty fast now.

"We have all worked extremely hard and I'm really looking forward to the tournament."

All 30 members of the squad boarded "Hope and Glory" despite a late scare surrounding lock Simon Shaw, who is understood to require a course of antibiotics to treat a facial infection.

Shaw was one of three players who missed yesterday's hugely successful O2 Scrum in the Park event, which drew a crowd of 20,000 fans to Regent's Park.

But he joined the squad on yesterday's flight, along with Martin Corry, who is recovering from a knee injury, and new father Lee Mears.