THE England side in France to defend the World Cup is not of the same calibre as the one that won it in 2003, according to former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones.

Many will agree with Jones, especially since England has fallen from first to seventh place on the International Rugby Board world rankings and struggled to beat rugby minnows the United States, 28-10, in their opening pool game at Lens last Saturday.

Jones's belief carries extra weight - and passion - considering that he was coach of the Wallabies side that lost the 2003 World Cup final to England due to a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in the 100th minute.

Jones is now part of the Springboks coaching staff that is busily planning England's downfall when the two sides meet in their second round World Cup pool match at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday.

Asked by the Herald if he believed this England team was as good as the squad that came to Australia in 2003 and left as World Cup champions, he said: "No, they are definitely not," but added that every World Cup team had a blank sheet.

"They are a different side," he said. "No side is the side of 2003."

Jones, who recently joined the Springboks as a technical consultant, said the upsets from round one in the World Cup, though unusual, were not without precedent. After all, England had a close call in 2003 against unfancied Samoa.

"You saw Ireland and Namibia on Sunday night," Jones said of this last week's pool matches. "Whoever would have thought that Ireland would beat Namibia [32-17] by 15 points? South Africa played Namibia in a World Cup trial, scoring 105 points against them a month ago. But in these games, you have to expect [minnow] sides to rise above themselves."

Jones said the Springboks were treating their match against England with a knockout-round mentality, realising that whoever won would likely finish top of the pool.

"[The] boys are sore after the Samoan game," Jones said. "But they realise it's an important game [against England]."

He laughed when reminded that if the Springboks beat England, and Australia finish top of their pool, he will have helped to ensure an easier quarter-final berth for the Wallabies.

If England finish second to South Africa in their pool, and Australia come first in theirs, the two sides will meet at Marseilles in the quarter-final.

"I would love to do that, mate," Jones said. Pass it on …"

While admitting he did not see the Wallabies' 91-3 win over Japan at Lyons, Jones warned against reading too much into Australia's win against a second-string side.

"I haven't watched it, but all I know is that they were playing against a Japan B side," Jones said. "They [Japan] were saving themselves for Fiji."

However, Jones still lauded the Wallabies' ability to score 13 tries against Japan, which was a physical and mental feat no matter the standard of opposition.

Jones also praised Rocky Elsom after his man-of the-match performance in the game that included three tries.

"Rocky is one of the most improved players in Australia," he said. "If all the blokes played with his desire, we [Australia] wouldn't have many troubles."

And as for his own World Cup form as a member of the Springboks coaching panel, Jones isenjoying the challenge and remains unconcerned his critics in Australia continue to label him a traitor.

Jones will most likely raise the ire of those critics again should the World Cup come down to a Springboks-Wallabies final at the Stade de France in Paris on October 20.

But don't expect to see Jones wearing a Springboks blazer. "I have a track suit, it is quite comfortable," he said.