England's two-tonne Rhino arrives in Perth

The secret member of England's World Cup challenge is already in Australia, having endured a 12,000-mile sea journey encased in a metal container.

The Rhino scrummage machine that helped England power their way to Grand Slam glory in the Six Nations championship has arrived at Hale School in Perth, where Clive Woodward will hold his training sessions.

The machine, which weighs two tonnes when fully filled with ballast, had to be specially cleaned before Australian customs would let it into the country, due to fears over contaminated soil.

The gleaming blue machine will be put under intense pressure by the England forwards on Friday in the first of what will be a gruelling series of scrummage sessions. The machine will follow England on their trek around Australia, hopefully culminating in a trip to Sydney for the semi-finals and final.

Derek de Glanville, father of former England captain Phil, is Rhino's managing director and said: "We waved goodbye to the scrummage machine at the start of August at Southampton docks and we have just heard that it has been unpacked and taken to Hale School to await the forwards.

"The machines cost around £6,000 and we were ready to send a new one out to Australia for the World Cup but Phil Keith-Roach, the England scrummage coach, and the players asked for the one that had been on duty during the Six Nations. They were very happy with its work!"