England select World Cup base

Six Nations champions England will be based in Auckland for their bid to regain the Rugby World Cup they won in 2003 after they were forced to find another base camp following February's earthquake in Christchurch.

England will begin in Auckland and return there for their final pool match against Scotland on October 1 and remain there for the knockout phase.

They play their other pool matches in Dunedin against Argentina (September 10), Georgia (September 18) and Romania (September 24).

England manager Martin Johnson said they had hoped to give the people of Christchurch a boost but circumstances had decided otherwise.

"Our thoughts are with the inhabitants of Christchurch who are in the midst of rebuilding their town," said Johnson.