BROTHERS and sisters, surely you can feel the clamouring for redemption in the air, as the Rugby League World Cup enters its second full weekend?

Only Scotland, from the home nations, can hold their heads up high, going into the second round of group games.

And while the set-up has been engineered to be kind to the so-called ‘big’ names, it’s put-up-or-shut-up time from Huddersfield to Wrexham.

No-one realistically doubts England’s chances against a valiant-but-flaky Irish side, in this afternoon’s Group A clash.

But the manner of Steve McNamara’s charges’ performance will surely speak volumes, ahead of a potential banana-skin meeting with Fiji seven days hence.

Make no mistake, the Pacific Islanders are not just here for the holiday, as the owners of plenty of bruised Wolfhound ribs will vouch for after their Monday opener in Rochdale.

I’ll expect Sean O'Loughlin and James Graham to stake major claims for inclusion from here on in, and will be no less interested in how Tom Briscoe fares.

Versus the Irish, it still has the ring of a Super League v Championship Challenge Cup encounter, and one which you expect the likes of full-back Sam Tomkins to have fun.

I’ve watched the likes of Tyrone McCarthy and Ben Currie for a few seasons, with my Warrington Wolves hat on, and know they’ll be going hell for leather, but England should ease clear and fashion some fluidity ahead of facing the fearsome Fijians in Hull.

Sheer common sense would dictate that the Welsh, already stung by a loss to the surprisingly adept Italians, should get their bandwagon back on track in Group D against the USA.

All credit to the Tomahawks for notching up their first World Cup points over the Cook Islands.

But if the Dragons fail to come up with the goods at the Racecourse Ground tomorrow, I truly fear coach Iestyn Harris will do one of them a serious injury, if his mood after the Italian job was anything to go by.

Neutrals would be advised to pay attention to Australia v Fiji tie later at St Helens, not so much for potential surprises but the crunch of sternum on sternum will probably be heard from Blackburn to Barnoldswick.

No less intriguing will be the Kiwis taking on France in Avignon and the tussle between the two Group C victors, Scotland and Italy, in Workington. Even the prospect of Papua New Guinea and Samoa will at least provoke some entertaining ball-play. It’s all bubbling away nicely.