It's back to the grind for England

If England want to ensure their forwards are battle hardened enough to reach the latter stages of Rugby World Cup 2011, then Pool B is the place to be.

With the English having narrowly seen off the power of Argentina last weekend, the formidable pack of Georgia will rumble into view at Otago Stadium on Sunday.

Lelos coach Richie Dixon has signalled his intent by naming three forwards among his five substitutes, while the RWC 2003 winners are employing veteran second row and man-mountain Simon Shaw to dominate rucks and mauls.

With Romania and Scotland yet to come, there will be no let-up for the England forwards as they aim to drive their team into the quarters.

But they know that Georgia are far from one-dimensional, with fly half Merab Kvirikashvili landing two difficult kicks in the 13-6 defeat by Scotland in Invercargill on Wednesday.

"Argentina were very, very tough and we expect nothing less from the Georgians," said England flanker Tom Croft who will start on the bench on Sunday.

"They've got a guy who can kick from inside his own half, and they have some big back row units."

The Georgians have won eight out of their last nine matches and are expecting more of themselves after an error-strewn showing against the Scots.

"England, having watched the Scotland game, will come out and understand that they have to perform," said former Scotland coach Dixon.

"We have our team, all 22 of them, and we have to stand up and be counted. These guys are up for this game because they are so disappointed with themselves. I can tell you they are so disappointed with their display against Scotland."

England were happy after pulling victory from the jaws of defeat against Argentina but they will not want to give Kvirikashvili as many chances at the sticks as they gave to the South Americans.

The Pumas missed six attempts at goal last Saturday, while England cannot be certain of their own kicking.

Jonny Wilkinson fluffed five of his seven attempts, and replacement fly half Toby Flood has yet to see any action.

The experience of the 38-year-old Shaw in England's pack could be crucial, having lost loosehead prop Andrew Sheridan for the rest of the tournament, and with lineout specialist Courtney Lawes suspended for two matches.

England's front row of Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley and Matt Stevens have played together just once before, in a warm-up win over Wales last month.

For Georgia, Montpellier star Mamuka Gorgodze, known as 'Gorgodzilla', will again operate as openside flanker - away from his usual positions of second row or number 8.

Dixon is hoping to free up Gorgodze, voted the best foreign player in France last year, to use his speed in attack as well as his power in the scrum.

But defence will be crucial if Georgia, who lost 84-6 in the only previous match between the sides, are to keep England's oft-forgotten backs away from the tryline.

"As we saw in the Six Nations, Italy versus England, the game was quite close and then all of a sudden it was 50 points versus Italy because they had the momentum and everything came good," said Dixon.