Ireland coach Warren Gatland has warned Australia to beware of a powerful English challenge in next Saturday's Sydney Centenary Test.
England have never beaten the Wallabies Down Under - eight failed attempts stretching back 36 years - but Gatland yesterday repeated his belief that Martin Johnson's men are good enough to win this year's World Cup.
"If a team underestimates England and thinks they are going to be easy, then good luck to them.
"They are a side which is capable of winning the World Cup. They are very strong up front, and if they can get their midfield combination sorted out then they will be a very tough team to beat.
"Next weekend is going to be a close match - England will be tough opponents for Australia."
The Wallabies did not impress Gatland. "I thought one or two of their players looked quite average when the pressure was on. Under pressure, they can make silly errors," he added.
After England's 39-14 win over Queensland at the weekend, coach Clive Woodward's Test line-up would appear to pick itself.
Woodward's only area for debate is the right-wing position, where fit-again David Rees is challenging uncapped Leicester flyer Leon Lloyd.
Asked if he had been impressed with Lloyd's all-round contribution, Woodward replied: "Yes and no," the Leicester man's positional frailties sometimes surfacing.
"I will sleep on it," Woodward said. "David Rees is fully fit and a proven player - he adds some presence to the team when he plays for England.
"There are not many tough calls to be made, that was just about the Test side which played against Queensland," he added.
Meanwhile, Australian Test centre Tim Horan is expected to announce his move to Bristol next week.
Horan has said he will end speculation about his future after the Test against England. And ambitious, big-spending Bristol, coached by former Australian coach Bob Dwyer, are favourites to obtain Horan's services. Dwyer has already signed South African out-half Henry Honiball, who, like Horan, is set to quit international rugby after this autumn's World Cup.
Horan, Australia's most decorated centre with 69 caps, has scored 27 Test tries, made more than 100 Queensland appearances and clocked up almost 50 Super 12 games. "I have made a decision, but I've not made any statements at this stage," said Horan, following the Wallabies training session at Concord Oval yesterday in preparation for next Saturday's Sydney Centenary Test. "I will wait until after the England game, probably a week or so, before saying anything."
Gary Teichmann will almost certainly play for and captain South Africa in Saturday's one-off Test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Teichmann, who missed Saturday's 101-0 victory over Italy, received a "knock on the knee" in the first Test victory over the Italians 10 days ago.
Saturday's success over Italy has certainly sent a warning to Wales, who will today name their side to face the world champions.
That side is likely to include David Young at tighthead prop and Colin Charvis on the blindside flank, while Scott Gibbs is hoping to make a return to the side after breaking his thumb and damaging his sternum at the end of the domestic season.
