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Last week's positions in brackets

1. (1) New Zealand

The All Blacks have racked up 184 points in their opening two pool games. It could just be that the team's sheer zest for the game will help overcome the psychological barriers that have stopped the All Blacks from winning the World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1987.

2. (2) South Africa

The Springboks have set out their credentials with a clinical 36-0 destruction of the defending champions. They were quicker to the break-down despite missing suspended back-row Schalk Burger and demonstrated a confidence in open play England could only dream of.

3. (3) Australia

Exciting young fly-half Berrick Barnes was outstanding in his first full international in the 32-20 victory over Wales and the Wallabies can probably keep playmaker Stephen Larkham in cotton wool until the semi-finals as he recovers from minor knee surgery.

4. (4) Argentina

Argentina closed in on the quarter-finals with a 33-3 win over Georgia which was topped-off by a last minute try which guaranteed a crucial bonus point. Another victory over Ireland opens a path to a probable last eight meeting against Scotland.

5. (8) Scotland

Have opened with comfortable if not totally convincing wins over Portugal and Romania but the draw means victories over an appalling Italy - a mere shadow of the side that beat them in this year's Six Nations - and the Pumas would put them into the last four.

6. (9) France

Just when the hosts thought they'd got their World Cup campaign back on track with an 87-10 rout of minnows Namibia, they were rocked by the news that Fabien Pelous will miss Friday's crunch encounter with Ireland. The winners will be all but assured of a quarter-final spot.

7. (8) Wales

Wales find themselves facing up to the prospect of talismanic captain Gareth Thomas being ruled out of the crunch clash with Fiji but at least they scored two tries against the Wallabies even if attack coach Nigel Davies has demanded the players "set higher standards"

8. (5) Ireland

Only the fact that one of the massive Georgian forwards landed on his back rather than on his sizeable stomach in the dying stages saved Ireland from the biggest upset in the 20-year history of the World Cup. The board have had to publicly deny claims the camp is in turmoil.

9. (6) England

Not since 1998 had England ended a Test with a zero on the scoreboard. Totally outclassed by the Springboks in every phase game and they saw Jason Robinson - their best player - hobble off with a hamstring problem. Are they good enough to beat two sets of South Sea Islanders?

10. (-) Tonga

The Sea Eagles shocked their fancied Pacific Island rivals Samoa 19-15 and will reach their first quarter-final if they can beat the faltering holders in their last group match in Paris on September 28. Think what would happen if they had Lesley 'The Volcano' Vainikolo on the wing!!

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