NO, NOT Wales - tough-as-teak England prop Phil Vickery has admitted that their performance against the All Blacks last Sunday has scared Clive Woodward's men.

Vickery will face Wales in the quarter-final of the World Cup in Brisbane on Sunday with renewed respect for the opposition just across the Severn Bridge from his Gloucester base.

"The Welsh performance at the weekend is sure to have shaken a lot of the coaches, it has certainly shaken a lot of the players. All credit to Wales," said Vickery today.

"I know a lot of the Welsh guys and I know how passionate they are. Kingsley Jones was my captain at Gloucester and there's Mark Taylor and Robin McBryde from the Lions.

"I'm pleased for Wales, but at the same time I want to win on Sunday, of course.

"But it's the quarter-finals of the World Cup and anything is possible. I'm sure Wales will have more belief after the weekend.

"Wales have shown in glimpses what they are capable of.

"The All Blacks have been unscathed, but the Welsh boys came out fighting and did fantastically well.

"A strong Welsh team can only be good for everyone. There is such a history and their values are such with their past glories that it's only justice they're up there competing."

Vickery revealed that at youth level he had never been on the winning side against Wales in four attempts.

"Being from Cornwall I always toured Wales at schools and youth level and I wasn't on a winning side against Wales," he said.

"You can't tell me all those players have become bad players now.

"On Sunday it's going to be who gets off to a good start, that is crucial because it will come down to who makes the least mistakes.

"Wales scored some of the best tries of the tournament against the All Blacks, so we can't make any stupid mistakes."

And Jason Leonard, who will equal the world record of international appearances on Sunday, admitted, "We know we're in for a hard game.

"England against Wales is always something special, but you don't need any more motivation than a World Cup quarter-final."

He says he is not contemplating finishing. "It does get harder each year," he admitted.

"But once you don't want to get up early or leave your family then you know it's time to finish. I know people who get up and go to the office and have a terrible day, but I've got a great job."