You won't even get past Samoa, says Zinzan

The London-based New Zealander predicts that 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.

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"I believe Samoa will cause an upset against England and get to the last eight instead," said Brooke, who was voted the best ever All Black in a recent poll.

"England were very 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 here on Sunday, led the eventual champions until 14 minutes from the end in Melbourne four years ago 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 fair chance there will be blood in the water."

Brooke bases his prediction partly on the influence of coach Michael Jones, the peerless wing 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 has a real ability to inspire people to push the boundaries of achievement and reach new peaks.

"Michael is not only a New Zealand legend but he is also very passionate about his Samoan roots. He'll realise England are not playing well and that they have the capacity to unravel."

Jones, who scored the first try of the 1991 World Cup in New Zealand's win over England at Twickenham, 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 four years ago, put his side's match against the Springboks on Sunday 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.

"That's why we are here. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and we are going to take it."

As Jonny Wilkinson spent another day under treatment, South Africa's Joel Stransky, the first fly half to win a World Cup final with a drop goal, underlined his importance to next Friday's pool match at the Stade de France.#

"If Jonny is fit, England will be in with a shout of beating the Boks," he said. "If he's not, they could well lose and lose to Samoa as well.

"He is that important to them. He is one heck of a player. When he's not there, England miss him from a psychological and leadership stand point. When he is not around, their confidence seems to take a big hit."