If England lose their opener at Cardiff to Australia, then they must beat both Ireland and Fiji to qualify for the quarter finals.

Ireland should not be a probem, despite the possibility of Pat Richards, Paddy Flynn and other notables playing for the Emerald Isle.

But Fiji will be a more ominous threat if all those eligible choose to play for Fiji.

Here are the key Australia-based players, who qualify based on their own birthplace or their parent's birthplace, listed in their possible team positions:

[iLote Tuqiri

Akuila Uate, Kevin Naiqama, Darryl Millard, Marika Koroibete

Jarryd Hayne
Ryan Millard

John Sutton
Wes Naiqama, Ashton Sims,
Petero Civinoceva Tariq Sims[/i

Interchange: [iKorbin Sims[/i



Should Akuila Uate choose to put his hand up for Australia, then he can be replaced by seasoned Melbourne Storm ace Sisa Waqa.

This is a very powerful potential team, with only the hooking position and three interchange positions to be filled by Fiji residents.

Petero Civinoceva, who retired from Brisbane and the NRL at the end of last season, is now playing Queensland Cup in order to be properly fit for the Fijian team.

It is not at all certain that England can defeat Fiji, because this Fijian team would consist of a very good set of forwards and a superior backline. The key to Fiji's success against England will lie in whether the Sims brothers choose Fiji (their mother's birthplace) as their allegiance. If so they could lay a platform whereby this Fijian three quarter line, which is so fast and agile, could well cut England to shreds.

Has Hayne confirmed he wants to play for Fiji?

No, hayne wants to play for Australia just as he wanted to at the last World Cup. Our weak rules will allow him to do what he wants though.

Even if he did want to play for Fiji over Australia he wouldn't risk saying so before he's played in Origin