KEY POINTS:
All Black legend Zinzan Brooke has warned England that they face the ultimate World Cup humiliation by failing to qualify for the quarter-finals - and that they will be beaten by Samoa.
The London-based New Zealander predicts the holders will fall victim to a giant-killing by Samoa in Nantes later this month after losing to South Africa next week, making them the first defending champions to be knocked out at the pool stage.
"I believe Samoa will cause an upset against England and get to the last eight instead," said Brooke.
"England were lucky to beat them at the last World Cup and they were a lot better then than they are now. England are unsettled and there's no doubt that Samoa have the style of rugby to beat them.
"England have not been convincing in their last couple of matches. They need to get themselves right pretty quickly otherwise they might unravel in the pool rounds.
"If something goes wrong, I don't think they have the calibre of player capable of putting it right as they had in 2003."
Samoa, who open their campaign against the Springboks tonight (NZT), led the eventual champions until 14 minutes from the end in Melbourne before losing 35-22.
World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson, alongside Brooke in their ambassadorial roles as Visa Legends yesterday, admitted: "I was afraid of losing that game. Samoa have an outside chance of getting to the quarter-finals," he added.
"The likely event is that they won't but, whatever happens, there is a chance there will be blood in the water."
Brooke bases his prediction partly on the influence of coach Michael Jones, the peerless loose forward who played alongside him in New Zealand's only winning campaign 20 years ago.
"Michael will be targeting this game as an upset," Brooke said. "In any close match where there's only five or six points in it, having him on your side will make all the difference. He can inspire people to push the boundaries of achievement and reach new peaks.
"Michael is not only a New Zealand legend but he is also passionate about his Samoan roots. He'll realise England are not playing well and that they have the capacity to unravel."
Jones said: "People might think we are a little crazy but our vision is to reach the semi-finals. We've done the quarter-final thing. We see England as a huge threat but, if we aim for the moon, at least we will end up amongst the stars."
Semo Sititi, Samoa's captain and No 8 whose sensational opening try in Melbourne put the skids under Johnson's team, put his side's match against the Springboks and the Nantes date with England into a biblical context.
"We always go on the story of David and Goliath," he said. "David saw his opportunity and took it."
