World Cup finalist Simon Halliday believes Will Greenwood is the missing link which will turn England into a consistent international force.

Halliday, who retired from the game in 1992 with a severe ankle injury, is an advisor for the British Lions selection panel.

When Lions coach Graham Henry comes to select his summer squad for Australia, England are sure to provide the bulk of it.

Picture: England captain Martin Johnson at the pre-match press conference today at the Balmoral Room, Pennyhill Park (Allsport)

Last season's Six Nations champions have already enhanced their reputation with victories over South Africa and Australia this year and if the Springboks can be defeated again when they come to Twickenham on Saturday, England will feel they can finally compete with the southern hemisphere on equal terms.

Halliday still thinks Clive Woodward's team are a little way short of the side which lost to Australia in the 1991 World Cup final. But he acknowledges that one minor selection tweak would rectify that shortfall.

``All they are missing is one player who can unlock a defence - that is why I would have Will Greenwood in the side,'' said Halliday. ``I do not go along with criticisms of the team on the basis that they have only scored an average of one try in their last three matches. But when the stakes are high you have to take any opportunity which presents itself.

``The current side are similar to the one I played in because there seems to be a slight lack of confidence. We talk a good game and we have been able to snap a late win but when did we last go out and give one of the southern hemisphere sides a real thumping.

``It is no use thinking `we can win on our day'. We have to believe we can win most days.''

Halliday, three times an Oxford University blue, was part of Bath's all-conquering side of the late 1980s before finishing his career at Harlequins.

Freely admitting he played on against medical advice, 40-year-old Halliday has been left in almost constant pain from the injuries to his ankle, which first started shortly after he was called into the England squad in 1983.

After retiring eight years ago Halliday has been forced to undergo a series of operations to rebuild the crumbling bone.

Despite this he has been unable to walk without pain and was facing a further operation to fuse two bones together until he discovered a revolutionary `action potential simulation' (APS) therapy earlier this year.

Developed in South Africa, APS stimulates the release of endorphines within the body which aids the breakdown of inflammation.

After initially using APS every day, Halliday has now limited it to four times a week and the positive results means the final operation - which would have left him with a permanent limp - has now been postponed.

``I played on after people told me to stop so I knew I would have problems,'' admitted Halliday. ``But most sportsmen would do the same because there is a desire to stay on the field. I am not claiming that APS is the answer to all my problems but if it is a treatment which can control pain it is a very attractive option.''