Will Greenwood predicts England v Scotland quarter-final at RWC

Former World Cup winner Will Greenwood is on a five-day tour of Scotland with the Webb Ellis trophy

Former English World Cup winner Will Greenwood is tipping Scotland to meet England in the last eight of this year's tournament.

With the top two sides progressing, Scotland will meet South Africa, Samoa, USA and Japan in Pool B.

"I've got you going through from the group," Greenwood told BBC Scotland.

"I think you could be playing England at Twickenham in a World Cup quarter-final. What an opportunity to rewind the clock back to 1991!"

Scotland's best World Cup performance came 24 years ago when they lost 9-6 to England at Murrayfield at the semi-final stage, with Gavin Hastings guilty of a close-range penalty miss.

The two old rivals have met one other time on World Cup duty, with England again prevailing; 16-12 in 2011 as Scotland failed to progress from the group section for the first time.

Scotland lost out to England at the last World Cup in New Zealand in 2011

And the Scots have not beaten England at Twickenham since captain Jim Aitken led them to a 22-12 success in 1983.

England, with whom Greenwood lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 2003, are in Group A this year, along with Australia, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay.

"As I look back on 2003 we plotted who we might play and where could we go," the former centre added. "It keeps coming back to 'win your first game'.

"You've got Japan at Gloucester, then USA, then come the big ones; South Africa and Samoa - two hugely physical sides.

"Those games are at St James' Park and that's not too far. You will paint Newcastle Scottish!"

Scotland, who suffered a Six Nations whitewash this year, are currently ranked 10th by the IRB, with group rivals Samoa ninth and South Africa second behind World Cup holders New Zealand.

"The results didn't go your way in the Six Nations but you should have won in Paris," added Greenwood, referring to February's 15-8 loss to France.

"But then Glasgow Warriors go and win the Pro12 and Vern Cotter is a wily head coach.

"If there was a Lions tour now, Jonny Gray would be on it. There are quality players in and around the back row for Scotland."