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MONTPELLIER - Australia coach John Connolly said the Wallabies had already started preparing to face England in the quarter-finals even though the defending champions are yet to qualify.
England will miss out if they do not win their last Pool A game against Tonga on Saturday but Connolly said he was so sure England would win, he had already started practising to play them.
"I think England will get away with it," Connolly said. "I think the scrum and the lineout and Wilkinson's kicking game will be decisive."
Australia had already provided a clue that they were working on a game plan for the world champions when pivot Berrick Barnes slotted over a drop goal in the 55-12 win over Fiji when they already had the game sewn up.
Australia have twice been on the wrong end of last-minute drop goals in World Cup matches against England.
Rob Andrew knocked the Wallabies out of the 1995 World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa with a drop goal while Wilkinson's effort decided the 2003 final in Sydney after the match went into extra time.
Connolly said Wilkinson's return to the England side meant that drop goals were likely to be back on the agenda if they meet in the quarter-finals so he instructed Barnes to have a practice shot against Fiji.
"All teams are paying attention to it," Connolly said.
"They've played a role in the past and I think with Wilkinson there obviously they play a big part with England."
England have struggled to produce their best form in the pool games but Connolly said he still rated them as one of the best teams in the tournament.
"They'll win 90 per cent of their lineouts, their scrum is good and Wilkinson will get them around the field," he said.
"They've got a lot of pace out wide so they're a team that will provide any side with some threats.
"When you spend a bit of time in England you know what they're capable of.
"They're dangerous, there's a lot of pace out there."
- Reuters
