PARIS (AP) — Jonny Wilkinson believes the rest of the rugby world can learn from the top quality performances of New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

That doesn't necessarily mean one of them will win the Rugby World Cup.

Although the Tri-Nations powerhouse teams are the first three to reach the last eight of the championship, Wilkinson says no one should assume one of them will go home with the William Webb Ellis trophy his drop goal won for England four years ago.

"The important thing for me is to get to the late stages and to play in the knockout contests where it's about a one-off game," Wilkinson told reporters yesterday ahead of England's must-win group game against Tonga.

"It's about tactics on the day. It's about big performances and a big effort to win. There's no better example than France for showing us how to play rugby like that. It's all there to be played for but it's a one step at a time process and England's next step is a huge game (against Tonga) on Friday night."

England and Tonga are neck-and-neck in the race to capture a quarter-final spot along with Group A winner South Africa. Level on points, they meet at the Parc des Princes in Paris, and the winner will face two-time World Cup winner Australia in Marseille on October 6.

"I'm very excited and looking forward to the (Tonga) game but we understand as a team that we have to improve heavily," said Wilkinson, who returned to RWC action to score 24 points in England's previous game, a 44-22 victory over Samoa.

"Tonga have shown themselves to be quite justifiably maybe the form team and to be playing the best rugby around.

"Their forward play has been equal to any of the teams who have played at the World Cup. Their individual athletic ability and their power and their skill match anyone in the world. We know that the way they are playing they are full of confidence."