Rugby World Cup: ABs look confident as woes dog rivals

England coach Stuart Lancaster still doesn't seem to know what his best combinations are. Photo / AP

England poor in Paris, Aussies’ flaws show and Boks’ game plan shaky as Cup looms.

It's dangerous to read too much into pre-World Cup form - the All Blacks lost back-to-back tests in 2011 immediately before their long overdue success on the big stage - but England's latest issues in losing to France highlight just how well prepared Steve Hansen's men look only weeks out from their first match.

England were poor in Paris in losing 25-20 at the weekend.

Coach Stuart Lancaster - who has had four years in the job - still doesn't seem to know what his best combinations are, including whom to select in the pivotal No10 jersey, and even the English media are starting to wake up to the threat Fiji could pose alongside England, Wales and Australia in Pool A.

They were also hampered by very poor discipline which allowed France to stroll out to a 22-6 lead with half an hour to go. That's also something they need to get out of their system, because, should they make it out of the so-called Pool of Death, many of the knockout matches are likely to be won on penalties.

"We gave away penalties and our discipline was shocking," said captain Chris Robshaw.

"Whether it was rust, or nerves, it wasn't good enough. Credit to France, they put us under pressure and made us make mistakes."

Rather than ease nerves with another victory after a close win at Twickenham the week before, the manner of England's defeat - a bumbling and at times seemingly uninterested effort - has sent them, if not into disarray, then certainly to a dark place.

Asked afterwards whether he knew his 31 for the World Cup squad or needed more time, Lancaster, who will name his side next Monday, said: "I do not know it. I will have to go away and think about it, watch the match again, have a chat with the coaches and make decisions towards the end of the week."

Elsewhere, Australia coach Michael Cheika has just overseen a near-record thrashing by the All Blacks at Eden Park and has selected only two specialist hookers in his World Cup squad plus a halfback in Will Genia who is well short of match fitness.

The 41-13 drubbing by the All Blacks could hardly have come at a worse time. It exposed shortcomings at the lineout as well as the usual frailties in Quade Cooper, who has received Cheika's backing but who surely won't be selected as a starter for the knockout matches.

They will be confident on the world stage as Aussies generally are, but they have obvious weaknesses. Their scrum has improved but now they have the lineout yips and opposition teams might have noticed how they failed to cope with the All Blacks' kicking game at Eden Park.

South Africa were well beaten by Argentina in Durban recently before predictably bouncing back in Buenos Aires, but they too have issues, including a game plan which is neither one thing nor the other.

They have an emerging centre partnership in Jesse Kriel and Damian de Allende but developing an expansive game while incorporating Bok rugby's traditional forward power is challenging coach Heyneke Meyer.

The All Blacks, by contrast, look settled and confident.

We will know more about Steve Hansen's plans when he announces his World Cup squad of 31 in Wellington on Sunday, but elsewhere it is tempting to fill in a background picture which is looking increasingly positive for the All Blacks' chances of becoming the first team to win back-to-back titles.

The best players virtually pick themselves for the big matches.

They have a first five in Dan Carter who is injury free, playing with confidence and has his old spark back and a pack which regained its ruthless edge against the Wallabies.

Ma'a Nonu seems to be getting better with age and in Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Julian Savea, the All Blacks have some of the best backs in the world in their positions.

It's no guarantee, of course, but it's a team every other international coach would like to have right now.