Former England coach Sir Clive Woodward suggests home pressure on referees helped the All Blacks lift the Webb Ellis Cup in 2011 and it could help England this time around.
He says hosting the Rugby World Cup will give England a big boost and claims France should still be aggrieved about losing 8-7 to New Zealand at Eden Park in the 2011 World Cup final, refereed by South Africa's Craig Joubert.
"If I had been the coach of France in that World Cup, I would still be apoplectic to this day," Woodward told the UK's Radio Times.
"If that final had been refereed properly, France would have won."
In the same interview, Woodward, who guided England to the 2003 World Cup title, disclosed that he had warned incumbent coach Stuart Lancaster "one stupid tweet" from any of his players could derail his team's World Cup bid on home soil.
Woodward cites smartphones and social media as a big threat to a successful campaign.
"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.
AFP