Tom Palmer insists that England would be foolish to underestimate France despite their recent loss to Tonga and the turmoil in their camp.

The French lost their final pool game 14-19 to the unfancied Tongans in the biggest shock thus far in the World Cup.

To add insult to injury, there are growing reports of disharmony within the French squad as coach Marc Lièvremont continues to openly criticise his players.

All things considered one wouldn't be surprised if the English viewed their quarter-final opponents as being there for the taking, but Palmer warns that the French are likely to have found motivation from their adverse circumstances.

"I think we can't (read much into it). You can't go into a World Cup quarter-final being complacent. It would be one of the worst things to do and you have to go in expecting a battle," said Palmer.

"I suspect they will be really committed to playing.

"They will see this as being given another chance and what has happened before is irrelevant because it is a one-off knockout match.

"I imagine they realise it. They can say 'screw everything' behind them and 'we can go out and win and go to the semi-finals of the World Cup'. That will be motivation for them."

Palmer, who currently turns out for Stade Français in the French Top 14, believes that the trouble in the French camp could be as a result of a deep rooted negative mentality.

"These things happen with the French. Look at their football team at the World Cup,'' he said.

"In my knowledge of the French guys and their psyche, if things are not going their way or if things are not going well, they make quite a lot out of it.

"But saying that, we can't read too much into it when we come up against them. I think they will raise their game against us and every time they play us, it tends to be a top match.

"You can have those cliches about wounded animals and we'll have to wait to see exactly what French team shows up,'' he added.

Source: Planet Rugby