The Leeds Rhinos powerhouse has been confirmed as captain of England for next week's one-off Test against France in Toulouse and is expected to retain the position for the 10-team tournament in Australia, which kicks off in October.

Peacock sees captaining England as "one of the greatest honours" in rugby league and he said: "Not many people get to do it, especially in a World Cup year.

"The World Cup seems very well organised, it's going to be a great tournament and I think it's one we've got a great chance of winning.

"We are going to have a good squad. We've got some great players coming through and some established players who've done well on the world stage.

"There's a buzz about the place with Tony Smith in charge and a lot of confidence among the players."

Peacock faces up to 16 more games before England fly to Australia in four months' time, but he insisted: "The World Cup is six or seven weeks out of your life to focus and concentrate on. If you can't do that, you shouldn't be playing for the team."

Smith will name his squad for the June 27 Test next Monday.

"Every English player has got one eye on the England team," said Peacock. "Tony doesn't take reputations into account, he picks on form.

"We're taking the France game very seriously. We want to get some combinations together and build some team harmony leading into the World Cup."

Smith revealed Peacock was always his first-choice for the captaincy.

"It wasn't a tough decision at all," said the coach. "Once JP showed his form warranted his selection in the team, he was obviously the right candidate.

"He has proved that in the past and he has got the right personality to fit the captaincy.

"He has earned his stripes in the past and he is earning his stripes at the moment.

"He is very determined to do the honour extremely well, he finds it an honour and I am very proud to have him as captain."

Smith added: "JP has been enormous in all the games he has played, that has been there for everybody to see.

"He does his best every time he goes on to the field, that's what you expect from JP and what you get as well.

"He has been in a rich vein of form for the last few years."

Peacock is the front-runner to captain England in this autumn's World Cup, but Smith said an announcement won't be made until nearer the time.

"If he maintains his form, that would be logical," said the coach. "But JP has been captain for the last few years and he has been known as a stand-in, which has not really been the case – he earned the honour in his own right.

"If he is injured before the World Cup, I don't want whoever is the captain to be seen as a stand-in, I don't want to take away from the honour."

Rhinos coach Brian McClennan reckons Peacock's the right choice.

"We are honoured to have the England captain playing at our club," said McClennan.

"He is a terrific man to lead his country, he has done a great job in the past and will do a great job in the future."

Meanwhile, classical tenor Jonathan Ansell has recorded a specially produced England World Cup anthem, Hearts of England.

Ansell performed with pop-opera group G4 on TV talent show X-Factor.