ENGLAND will go into the 15th World Cup as second favourites, due more to New Zealand's apparent disarray than any rare optimism for the tourists.

It is 22 years since England last reached the final and 45 years since they last lifted the trophy and the odds are significantly longer on them matching the latter feat than the former.

England coach Wayne Bennett has already hinted that he would be satisfied with an honourable defeat in their opening pool game against Australia in Melbourne, knowing they might well have a chance to exact their revenge five weeks later in the one that really matters.

Bennett's comments caused a stir and, while it was strange for a coach to be so up front and honest, he was simply saying what most England fans will have been thinking. Three of the four teams go through from Group A to the knock-out stages, when the really serious business begins.

Of course, an upset victory over the Kangaroos would theoretically open up a more straight-forward path to the Brisbane final as it would avoid a traditionally daunting duel with the Kiwis in Auckland.

Yet the whole jigsaw puzzle has been thrown into confusion by the mind-boggling happenings with Tonga, who are shaping up as real dark horses for the semi-finals after unveiling a host of big-name defectors, led most notably by Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita.

The Samoa-Tonga heavyweight clash on November 4 was expected to provide plenty of fireworks before the star-studded team lists were revealed and will now be unmissable while Tonga's duel with the Kiwis a week later is already being billed as a not-to-be-missed grudge match.

Sandwiched between the meaty Pacific Island clashes are poor old Scotland, who must feel as if they are being served up as burnt offerings.

Steve McCormack has established an excellent reputation of getting the Bravehearts to perform beyond what could normally be expected and his wily coaching skills will be put to the supreme test over the next month.

At least the Scots – who have Bulls' Brandan Wilkinson and Oscar Thomas among their ranks – may need only to sneak one win to get through Group B, whereas Ireland and Wales will have little room to manoeuvre in Group C where only the winners will qualify for the quarter-finals and a potential meeting with England in Melbourne.

They, too, will be thrown into the lion's den with trips to Port Moresby, where they will come face to face with the most passionate fans in the world.

Papua New Guinea will be supremely confident following the Hunters' successful season in the Queensland Cup and, on home soil in front of packed houses at the renovated national stadium, will be hot favourites to win the group.

It is 17 years since Wales last enjoyed a World Cup victory and John Kear will need to dig deep into his coaching nous to stop the rot against the Kumuls and Fiji, who will have a certain Jarryd Hayne back to spearhead their bid for a third successive semi-final.

Mark Aston's Ireland have been handed a less daunting inter-group match against Italy and they will fancy their chances of getting their campaign off with a victory before the tougher tasks to come.