Mick Cleary: England a poor punch-drunk scrapper. But they're still standing

Imagine if a Wimbledon schedule had had Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray in the same half. There would have been uproar. That’s what rugby has managed to come up with

NARROW ESCAPE: England's Danny Care celebrates scoring his side's second try against Samoa. Pic: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

Ladies and Gentlemen! In the green, blue, red, and black corner we have the world’s number one ranked side alongside the well-backed hosts, then the defending champions, also the three-time World Cup winners, and the much-improved, sharply-conditioned knockout specialists looking once again to land a few blows.

And in the white corner we have, er, the out-of-form, unloved, stylistically ugly England, unbeaten so far in the competition who got lucky with the draw and retain a slugger’s chance of causing an upset.