Justin Marshall: Australia playing with more cohesion than All Blacks

Australia's Tatafu Polota-Nau acknowledges the crowd after their 65-3 win in the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Australia and Uruguay. Photo / AP.

Australia are looking good at this World Cup.

They had to work hard to beat Fiji, but, while they couldn't get a bonus point, the victory was relatively straightforward, and they put a big score on Uruguay despite making a lot of changes to their line-up.

In fact, you could say they are playing with more cohesion than the All Blacks, who have shown a couple of signs of rust, and their pool game collision against England at Twickenham next Sunday NZT is looming as an epic encounter.

England v Wales was billed as the biggest pool game in World Cup history, but, for the hosts at least, there is probably more on their next one against the Wallabies because they will be fighting to stay in the tournament.

I had the pleasure of being at Twickenham for Wales' victory and I haven't experienced that hype and atmosphere at many stadiums. The game had everything, controversy, a couple of stunning pieces of talent to create tries, grit, courage and drama. It was billed as a blockbuster and it delivered.

The only people to predict that result were probably loyal supporters and those whom just wanted England to lose. It was an upset and what a shake it's given the tournament; the hosts fighting to stay in the tournament at Twickenham against a red-hot Australia. Have we now got the biggest pool game in World Cup history?

The hosts have never before been knocked out in the pool stages. Australia will know they can knock England out and I think this game is going to be sensational. There is so much at stake. The interesting thing will be the atmosphere. There is a big rivalry between Wales and England, but I expect the atmosphere for England v Australia will have more tension than expectation this time.

There are plenty of other interesting clashes between now and then. The All Blacks get back on deck against Georgia in Cardiff on Saturday NZT and the biggest interest for me is where they go in terms of selection.

They've had two hit-outs, with 29 players out of 31 getting game time. I believe it's time to get Waisake Naholo out there against Georgia in Cardiff if he's fit. The selectors have to find the right balance and right combination among the back three and until Naholo plays we don't know that yet. Also there will be a spotlight on the midfield, at lock, blindside flanker and the front row.

Clearly the selectors know what they're doing but I hope they go for their strongest team for the next two matches in order to best prepare them for the quarter-final.

Substitutions can be made during games - for example why not give Richie McCaw just 30 minutes against Georgia? I think too many changes would be dangerous.

With all due respect to Georgia, and the All Blacks' final pool opponents Tonga (who are due a good game), you would have to say the main interest is how the All Blacks selectors manage their line-up so that they have a team in the best possible form for the quarter-final.