Michael Cheika says Australia need to improve if they are to defeat England in Rugby World Cup

Australia coach Michael Cheika says England will be favourites for next Saturday's massive World Cup showdown at Twickenham.

Cheika's side warmed up for the match with a 65-3 thrashing of Pool A minnows Uruguay at Villa Park on Sunday, scoring 11 tries as they made it two wins from two.

However, they face a tougher test next Saturday against an England side smarting from Saturday's narrow loss to Wales.

England now need to beat Australia if they are to avoid the indignity of departing the tournament they are hosting before it has even reached the knockout stages.

However, Cheika says all he will be worrying about is Australia's performance, and he feels they need to step up on their efforts to date if they are to prevail.

"I know what I think," he said. "England are the home team, so they're going to be the favourites.

"It's a tough place to win. That part is pretty straightforward.

"I don't know how they'll be, that's their business. We are going to have to improve some of the pieces of our game, so we can get to the standards we need to be at for the game on Saturday, and we're going to be working hard on our improvements.

"Our plan is not to have to scrounge through [to the quarter-finals]. As far as I know, if you want to win the World Cup you have to win every game.

"We've got to play well every game and let the results speak for themselves. We're not sitting in front of the TV barracking after one team or another.

"Against England, we're going to have to improve on the first two matches."

England were criticised for throwing away a 10-point lead against Wales and for declining to attempt a kickable penalty late on which could have salvaged a draw, but Cheika was not interested in analysing their display.

"I don't think I'm in the right position to be putting in a critique on any other team apart from my own," he said.

"I'm a bit of a novice at this. I've really come here just with my focus squarely on the Australian team, and not to have an opinion on other team's performances."

Regarding the game against Uruguay, Cheika felt his second-string Wallabies team could have been more clinical but was impressed by flanker Sean McMahon.

The Aussies have a incredibly strong hand in the back row, and David Pocock and Michael Hooper are expected to be back in the team to face England.

I think we've still got a lot of improvement, we probably left too many opportunities behind.

"I think we've still got a lot of improvement, we probably left too many opportunities behind," said Cheika.

"But there are a few players that definitely put their hands up for selection.

"It's getting a bit ridiculous. Every man of the match we're having is seven or eight [the back row positions].

"We've got some pretty influential players in those positions but, as long as he [McMahon], is there rattling their cage, that'll keep them honest.

"I was very pleased and proud of his performance."

No 8 Wycliff Palu, who came off at half-time, is a doubt for the England game because of a hamstring problem, while lock Will Skelton "has some ice on his shoulder", according to Cheika.

It was a second heavy defeat of the tournament for Uruguay but coach Pablo Lemoine was pleased with the gutsy way his side performed.

"I'm really proud of how the team played," he said. "We tried all match to score a try but, at times, it's difficult to play for 80 minutes at the same level.

"There's a natural progress in the evolution of a country, if there is a good programme. We have to keep working and respecting the programme so that, with the passing of time, we improve our performance."