“Tonga to beat England in Paris tonight? Nothing would make me happier. As a Pom-basher from way back, it would give me great delight to see the Tongans send the defending champion tumbling from the Rugby World Cup before the quarter-finals.”

So writes Campo, pretty much summing up the feelings of the non-English world.

While the rose petals have million-dollar players running out at 5am AEST, you could just about buy the whole Tongan team for that. Actually, never mind the players – England’s baggage handler is a much pricier unit than the island gladiators who are receiving just $60 a week for their World Cup duties.

The rugby fraternity appreciates an underdog more than most and for the French crowd, well, Tonga is playing England.

Unfortunately, even Campo can’t see the great upset happening. Heavens, you wouldn’t miss watching just for the chance, but the reality has to be that boring England will sensibly play to its structured strengths and – this being sudden death for them – not make the South African mistake of taking Tonga lightly for one minute, let along 45.

The man who won the last World Cup for England, Martin Johnson (no, it wasn’t Johnny Wilkinson), has written the script in The Times. But we can all hope.

Tonga v England is one of three games definitely worth watching this weekend, while two others are of interest, leaving just three duds. Wales v Fiji at 1 am Sunday is another Islander David v Fading Giant knockout and Ireland v Argentina 1 am Monday has to be seen if only to find out if the Irish are capable of anything this RWC or should all be swabbed.

Scotland v Italy 5am Sunday decides the weakest quarterfinalist, but could be worth seeing just in case the television coverage features Sergio Parisse’s girlfriend at some stage.

And there’s the Australia v Canada dead rubber at 11pm tomorrow as the curtain raiser for Wales v Fiji. Injuries mean the Wallabies are fielding a decidedly B backline with the exception of Chris Latham – it would have been nice to have kept him in cotton wool.

There’s plenty of interest though in Sam Cordingly’s run-on performance at halfback – Wayne Smith thinks a strong game from him could have serious repercussions for team selections in the knock-out games.

Tuqiri showed flashes of marked improvement against Fiji but tomorrow is at outside centre and has been made vice captain in a curious experiment. Maybe coach Connolly hopes more responsibility might achieve something that a very fat pay packet and too much hype have not.

Now, it’s time to recycle your St George or Swans team colours, get a few Polynesian tatts and partake in the global spirit of the heavenly game – c’mon Tonga!