SALFORD legend Chris Hesketh has called on the spirit of '72 to inspire England's World Cup challenge.

The former master centre punched the air with delight in celebration of Great Britain's crowning as world champions 36 years ago.

The Lions triumphed on French soil and the late great Clive Sullivan was chaired from the field after a draw in the final against Australia handed them victory on countback.

For Chris, now 63, it was a magnificent occasion to savour and he hopes that today's stars, who arrived in Australia this week, can enjoy similar success by bringing the cup back home.

"Our game has changed over the years and I have to salute all the wonderful athletes who now play our great game," he said.

"They're so talented, they're so brave and they take so many incredible bangs - I don't know how they do it. I take my hat off to them

"I think England have a fair chance because we've got some belting players and it's all about coming together in this event and taking enormous pride in pulling on a red, white and blue shirt - I know I did and so did the other lads.

"Back in 1972, we had a wonderful team spirit. We were in it together and we just decided that we were going to go out there and give it the Aussies and the rest. We beat the Kiwis, we beat the French on home soil and there were a lot of humble but very determined lads in our squad.

"They were not bothered about the fame, all we wanted to do was just go out and play rugby to the best of our ability.

"We may have won the World Cup but we didn't get any plaudits outside the rugby league world. We weren't expecting to but that didn't bother us either because we'd done what we wanted to do.

"We held Australia to a draw in the final and we then contained them in extra time, it was a superhuman effort when I look back but it was so worthwhile and so pleasing.

Lucky

"Don't forget we were all part-time players, we trained two nights a week with our clubs and we had to get time off work to go to the World Cup. I worked in sales, I was lucky and it was a wonderful experience."

Hesketh, a keen student of the game, has been running the rule over the England squad.

"The England lads certainly have the class to do well again," he said. "Rob Burrow is a wonderful little scrum-half, I love watching him play, while his Leeds team-mate Jamie Peacock is absolutely world class, a magnificent forward.

"I'm also hoping to see Adrian Morley do well and I would dearly love him to finish his career with Salford and have a couple of years there.

"Mickey Higham could also go very well. I'm very surprised Wigan are letting him go because he's had a terrific season and he has a tendency to annoy the opposition with his style of play.

"There's always one player who comes up trumps and it could well be Higham. The Aussies and the Kiwis are the favourites but the likes of Tonga and Samoa could spring one or two surprises.

"These fellows from the Islands are big and fast, they play a lot of their rugby in Australia and New Zealand and if they drill properly they can be extremely dangerous."

Hesketh can still recall every minute of that final against the mighty Aussies.

"I was up against Mark Harris a big Aussie centre," he added.

"He could be extremely dangerous if he latched on to what I would term a Kenny Gill pass. Mike Stephenson's try for us could not have come at a better time, it was a quick slip in and believe me he was a damn good player and a very fine hooker.

The team spirit was just unbelievable."

Hesketh speaks highly of his former team-mate Paul Charlton who was a rock at the back for Britain.

He said: "Paul was just so good in defence and on attack. The Salford team at the time were all about pace, Paul had this and he was a wonderful full-back.

"It was great team to be part of at both club and international level and we can all look back on some great times but the World Cup win was extremely special. It's about eight years ago that we got our commemorative medals at a Lions reunion in Walkden.

"It really is a lovely medal and I'm fortunate because not many have one but, hopefully, the lads in Tony Smith's squad will soon have their own."