Ian McGeechan's men face Fiji. (Getty Images)

By Neal Collins

At last, a sensible Australian!

Former Wallabies coach Rod Macqueen reckons England are favourites to win the World Cup despite those ugly victories over South Africa and Samoa.

Macqueen can claim to know a bit about global domination having led Australia to the World Cup at the Millennium Stadium four years ago.

Macqueen said: "England have been asked tough questions twice - and they've answered them.

"New Zealand and Australia have yet to be asked those questions.

"I think England are still favourites, up there with New Zealand."

Unsurprisingly, Macqueen leaves the door open for his Wallabies though.

He said: "I look back to 1995 when South Africa were hosts. They weren't the best team in the world, I think New Zealand were, but the Boks finished up winning it."

This weekend the picture will become a lot clearer as the quarter-finalists take their places after the final pool games.

First up on Saturday, Ian McGeechan's scolded Scots must see off Fiji.

OK, the Islanders are Sevens specialists and they beat Japan 41-13 (Scotland could only manage 32-11), but they both got stuffed out of sight by France so everyone wants to play the winners of this one in the quarter-final at Brisbane next Saturday.

That privilege will go to the winners of Ireland versus Australia in Melbourne.

The losers will play in-form France in the second Melbourne quarter-final next Sunday.

Ireland, after some deliberation, have picked their strongest side and coach Eddie O'Sullivan came out fighting insisting: "We know we can win it."

Since their shock defat of the Australians in Dublin last year they've been stuffed Down Under, and the hosts must be favourites.

Saturday's third game sees South Africa take on a resurgent Samoa, fresh from their near-miss against England.

The loser goes home, the winner plays the All Blacks in Melbourne next Saturday.

That's not strictly true...yet.

Wales face New Zealand in Sydney on Sunday and the winners go to Melbourne. The losers play England in Brisbane next Sunday.

England will score 100 points with their second team against Uruguay in Brisbane this Sunday to put their World Cup campaign back on track after the £10,000 fine and two-match suspension of touchline coach Dave Reddin following the 16-man fiasco against Samoa.

The key factor for England: Will Lawrence Dallaglio emerge from his "quiet start" to the World Cup?