England manager Martin Johnson has warned his players to maintain their focus in the World Cup quarter-final against France.
The Red Rose managed to top their group after winning all four games, although performances have hardly been setting the world alight while there have been off-field issues as well.
However, France appear to be in worse shape after scraping through their pool despite losing two games - an unsurprising but comprehensive defeat to New Zealand and then a shock final round-robin defeat toTonga.
France were made to work hard for their wins over Japan and Canada as well and have had their own problems to deal with, following suggestions coach Marc Lievremont had fallen out with his players.
However, Johnson knows how dangerous France can be and called on his players to be prepared for anything.
"The best plan doesn't survive first contact with the enemy," Johnson said.
"We know France can underperform but we also know they can produce games that are almost unstoppable, as we have seen at World Cups.
"You absolutely expect anything and for it to be of the highest standard. Anything can happen and we have to deal with it mentally.
"If you don't deal with it mentally you can't deal with it physically."
France pulled off a shock win over the All Blacks four years ago but have lost to England three times out of four at World Cups, including a 14-9 defeat in the semi-finals in Saint-Denis in 2007.