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Ireland and Australia can upset the odds but Japan have probably gone as far as they can
Form England are looking untroubled. They didn’t even have to play at the weekend. They have not been above criticism in their three bonus-point wins out of three, but the calibre of opposition has improved with each match and would have done so again, but for Typhoon Hagibis. England have got better, too. But none of it feels quite real. Neither can the weirdness of a cancelled World Cup fixture and evacuation back to sunny Kyushu to try to simulate the match they never got to play. Mature heads will be needed to negotiate the leap thence to a quarter-final against Australia. The Wallabies haven’t exactly impressed, but England know only too well they can play a bit when the situation demands. Michael Cheika has been firing shots on their behalf at all targets throughout the tournament. He’ll create a siege mentality, even if there isn’t one to be had. Continue reading...