Pool B/ Australia 37 Canada 6:Australia would have preferred to play South Africa rather than their old enemies England in the World Cup quarter-finals, coach John Connolly said.

South Africa thrashed England 36-0 in the pool stage but Connolly said the Australians believed the Springboks would have been easier opponents than the defending champions.

Australian teams have long struggled to contain England's giant forwards and while the English have not been at their best in this tournament, Connolly fears they are discovering form since the return of Jonny Wilkinson.

"We're more comfortable against South Africa than England because we know them better," Connolly said after Australia finished off their pool matches with a 37-6 win over Canada on Saturday.

"They (England) are dangerous. I said before the tournament started that they're a side that will be in the mix come the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and they'll keep improving."

There has never been any love lost between Australian and England, and Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill has already lit the fuse for an explosive build-up to the match in Marseille when he said all Australians hate the English.

The Wallabies captain Stirling Mortlock is among a handful of survivors from the team desperate to avenge their agonising loss to England four years ago but Connolly has played down revenge as a motivating factor.

"We've played them many times since and the current English team bears little resemblance to the one that lifted the trophy," he said.