All Blacks leading Rugby World Cup charge

The World Cup's big guns took stock as the final week of the tournament's group stages got underway with Wales looking for maximum points against Namibia to draw level with Samoa in a tight Pool D. With three games under their belt, the All Blacks have confirmed they are the tournament favourites as the only side to take the maxiumum 15 points, although England, South Africa and Ireland are also unbeaten. To date the hosts are the only team to be sure of a berth in the quarter-finals and there is a growing feeling of optimism in the country that they can end the painful, 24-year-long wait for a second World Cup title. Writing in the New Zealand Herald, former All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson on Monday claimed the World Cup is "ours to lose" based on what the side showed in Saturday's 37-17 demolition of France at Eden Park. "It was a fantastic performance from the All Blacks. It showed how dangerous we truly are, if we get possession for any length of time and we make the great decisions we made. We were fantastic," he enthused. Graham Henry's men have now decamped to Wellington where they have begun preparations for Sunday's final Pool A game against Canada. Martin Johnson's England have gone in the other direction, heading north to Auckland from Dunedin in the South Island where they won their three first games. Winger Chris Ashton, the tournament's leading try scorer with five, said the chage of scenery was just what the squad needed. "It's good to come back to the heart of where the Cup's happening. I'm sure the atmosphere here is a lot different to Dunedin. It'll just be good to get involved in that," he said. In keeping with the change of scenery mood, Australia are now down in the resort of Hanmer Springs in the South Island and South Africa are at Lake Taupo in the north. France coach Marc Lievermont meanwhile continues to grumble as he seeks to get his misfiring side back on the right tracks. He rounded on French journalists at the weekend for creating a "detestable" atmosphere at his press conferences, while two of his players - Louis Picamoles and Damien Traille - demanded explanations of why they were replaced at half-time against the All Blacks. Argentina were left bruised and bloodied but ecstatic after their last-gasp winning effort over Scotland in Wellington on Sunday. In atrocious, wet and windy conditions, the Pumas looked down and out when Scotland went 12-6 up late on, but an opportunistic try with seven minutes remaining by Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino saved the day in a 13-12 triumph. The south Americans are now in pole position to grab the second qualifying spot from the pool which would put them up against the All Blacks in the last eight, but first they must beat gritty Georgia. "Nothing is over just yet. Today we'll celebrate but tomorrow we'll wake up and train thinking about our next game against Georgia. If we don´t win against them, this victory will mean nothing," warned flanker Julio Farias. Monday's only game sees Wales take on Namibia in New Plymouth where they will seek maximum points to draw level with Samoa in second place in Pool D behind the the Springboks, the defending champions.