Each Tuesday until the end of the Rugby World Cup, Stuff.co.nz rugby writer Liam Napier will assess who's hot and trending upward as all roads lead to the final at Twickenham on November 1.

1. France (up five)

Many, quite openly, thought Italy could cause a boilover. How wrong we were. France recorded a resounding 32-10 win at Twickenham to put the tournament on notice and skyrocket up this chart. The French forwards bossed the Italians; their backs played with flair and verve. Veteran playmaker Frederic Michalak, in his first World Cup match for eight years, pulled the strings to collect 19 points. Mathieu Bastareaud was a beast in the midfield. Suddenly, they appear united. It'd be so French to turn up when no-one expects them to. Time will tell but on this evidence they should be feared.

2. All Blacks (stable)

Rusty and ill-disciplined but composed enough to get the job done. The Pumas gave the All Blacks a serious fright at Wembley before Steve Hansen unleashed possibly his greatest strength, the depth of his bench. Prior to the final 25 minutes the Pumas' direct approach exposed the tournament favourites around the fringes with quick ruck ball. Their defence was found wanting. Surviving two yellow cards deserves credit, but better execution is a must. You can't afford to blow two tries. Now we wait three weeks to find out exactly how much Hansen's men learnt from their opening scare.

3. England (down two)

Don't be fooled by their bonus-point win, England were uninspiring in quelling Fiji. The pre-match hype and opening ceremony created more excitement than the hosts. Stuart Lancaster has much to ponder before taking on Wales. For large periods England seemed confused; stuck between wanting to attack or tighten it up with their pack. In the end it was a muddled mixture of both. Eventually, as the Fijians tired and Sam Burgess added some punch, they rolled home. The score, though, was flattering. Other than fullback Mike Brown's impact, England need to show much more.

4. Ireland (up one)

Difficult to take too much from such a lopsided 50-7 win over Canada. Above anything else, Ireland deserve respect for Jonathan Sexton's continued class. Sexton always appears to be adding to his game. Attacking genius he is not, but he does the basics well and controls Ireland's conservative game-plan to perfection; this time grabbing 14 points. Ireland had their bonus point before halftime but the forwards, particularly flanker Sean O'Brien and lock Iain Henderson, stood out. Loosehead prop Cian Healy also returned after neck surgery . After warm-up losses to Wales and England, confidence will be restored somewhat.

5. Japan (first timers)

Probably the only time they will appear on here but how could Japan not be included after knocking over the Springboks, the most successful team in World Cup history? Breaking an 18-match World Cup losing run only makes the Brave Blossoms' 34-32 win more inspiring. Turning down two shots at goal in the dying stages in search of a memorable upset sums up their tenacious attitude. Speed of ruck ball, aggressive work at the breakdown and surprising ball retention ultimately wore down the aging Boks. The question now is can Japan back it up against Scotland? Either way they've captured a new legion of fans.