Sir Graham Henry has labelled Australia as the team to watch as the Rugby World Cup's quarter-finals lineup takes shape.
The last coach to win the Webb Ellis Cup was hugely impressed with the Wallabies 33-13 demolition of England, rating their performance nine out of 10.
"The hugely impressive Wallabies played at speed, had sublime skills and executed superbly most of the time," Henry wrote in his latest column for The Guardian.
"We have all got to accept England are simply not good enough. There is no doubt they gave their best against Australia and turned up to play but across the park their athleticism, skill level and execution paled in comparison."
Henry talked up the Wallabies improving scrum and was impressed with Bernard Foley at No 10.
"I thought he could be a problem for Australia, not good enough at this level, but how the player of the game proved me wrong. He played with authority, navigating his side adroitly, kicking astutely and landing all his kicks at goal; above all, he was the most penetrative back on the field," Henry wrote.
He said axed England first-five Danny Cipriani had provided Australia with the perfect team talk after his outrageous column where he said no Wallabies players would make the England side.
"He may not have been in the squad but Stuart Lancaster would have been furious. One of the golden rules in sport at this level is you never give the opposition a team talk. It's also one of the reasons teams love to beat England – they talk a good game!"
Henry was disappointed with the Samoan cup effort and delighted with Japan's, although he feared the Japanese could still miss out on the playoffs. He also put a reality check on the Springboks' progress since their shock loss to Japan.
"With most of the quarter-finalists decided, Australia are ones to watch. South Africa have recovered from losing to Japan but they appear back to their old ways, more brawn than skill, high in their carries [and tackles] all game against Scotland and slow to get the ball away. They are distinctly beatable and the Scots may come to regret not selecting their best team."
