Pool A/England v Tonga:Fear is the key to England's ambitions. If they can distil and refine the emotion and use it in a positive manner to unearth a focus and commitment to this contest, then they have the brawn to quickly extinguish the romantic illusions to a potential upset by the Pacific Island minnows.
If fear becomes anxiety and manifests itself in mistakes and hesitancy then the fractured nature of their performances to date in this World Cup could return to haunt England. Confidence has been an issue for the world champions and there has been enough evidence in the matches so far to suggest England are brittle enough under the microscope of extreme pressure.
They managed a virtually perfect start against Samoa in their last match but from a position of cruise control, the English machine demonstrated all the finesse of a learner driver when the Samoans applied pressure. At 26-22 behind Samoa had a great chance to take the lead but tossed it away carelessly.
To their credit, England regrouped, finishing the match strongly, but were facilitated by opponents who were physically spent with a quarter of the game to go. Tonga, on their displays to date, are likely to last the pace better but even that will be dependent on the scoreboard. The will to push tired limbs and minds is fuelled by the opportunity to claim victory.
It's a point to which their outstanding captain and flanker Nils Latu alluded: "We have been training for a long time to make ourselves an 80-minute team. We are strong; we are calm under pressure and we will continue to play the way we've been playing. We will get opportunities to score, so it's in our own hands to take them.
"We haven't got the greatest facilities or equipment in Tonga - but we've shown here you don't always need that. We are a tight group and we respect each other, and we are not playing just for us - we're playing for the people of Tonga. People underestimated us, but we believed we were good enough to get to the quarter-finals. We are one step away from that now."
Tonga are charged with the simpler task. As underdogs they are required to turn up, play with the same skill levels and passion they demonstrated against a largely second-string South Africa team and then await England's response.
The last time these sides met, in the 1999 World Cup at Twickenham, England racked up over a century of points, 101-10. Tonight's contest couldn't be further removed. Tonga beat the USA, surprised their more fancied neighbours Samoa in winning and snaffled a bonus point from the Springboks match, a game they might have even won by for the bounce of a ball.
Their application and attitude has been exemplary and their progress to this point marked by an upward curve. In Latu, Fina Maka and Hale T Pole - restored to the team after serving a one-match ban for a red card against Samoa - they have one of the best backrows in the tournament. They also possess the islanders' traditional handling skills, their thumping tackling and to this point, discipline. They have absorbed the subtle differences between tackling and defending.
In Pierre Hola, Tonga boast a playmaker and provided he's given a platform by his pack, a potential catalyst for his team's fortunes.
England coach Brian Ashton spoke about the importance of a positive mental outlook from his players. He'll have a final word before the team leaves its luxurious Versailles hotel and then he'll hand over to the players. He's treating them as adults, experienced, quality rugby players and he's expecting the requisite response.
He's been encouraged by the preparation. "There's a sense of anticipation, as opposed to anxiety, this week. From the training we've done and from the discussions we've had it's fair to say that all 30 players, not only the 22 who are playing, are anticipating tomorrow night's match."
England must demonstrate a selective memory, recalling that they remain the world champions and that if they concentrate on imposing their own patterns, it should suffice. They'll be stronger up front, have the better set-pieces and can rely on the nerveless play-making and place-kicking skills of Jonny Wilkinson.
They must understand the difference between introducing the freedom of expression associated with playing to win rather than the risk-minimalisation process of trying not to lose.
Freed from those mental shackles, they will be good enough.
ENGLAND: J Lewsey; P Sackey, M Tait, O Barkley, M Cueto; J Wilkinson, A Gomarsall; A Sheridan, G Chuter, M Stevens; B Kay, S Borthwick; M Corry (capt), L Moody, N Easter. Replacements: L Mears, P Vickery, L Dallaglio, J Worsley, P Richards, A Farrell, D Hipkiss.
TONGA: V Lilo; T Tu'ifua, S Hufanga, E Taione, J Vaka; P Hola, S Tu'ipulotu; H Tonga'uiha, A Lutui, K Pulu; V Vaki, L Fa'aoso; H T Pole, N Latu (capt), F Maka. Replacements: E Taukafa, T Filise, M Molitika, I Afeaki, S Havea, H Tonga'uiha, A Havili.
Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).
