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Battle of wills key to World Cup final

A wax model of England's star rugby player Jonny Wilkinson is perched on a plinth in front of Nelson's Column in London's Trafalgar Square yesterday. Wilkinson will feature in the England squad that plays South Africa in the Rugby World Cup final in Paris today. PHOTO: AP

An extraordinary tournament ends with the most unlikely of finals today when holders England somehow find themselves again facing the South Africa team who humiliated them 36-0 five long weeks ago.

England are one win away from becoming the first team to retain the World Cup and the first to lift it after losing a match en route. After their travails before the tournament and their woes in its early pool weeks, success today would probably surpass the achievements of 2003.

The holders have momentum, renewed belief, vast experience, wonderful defense and a fantastically stubborn refusal to be beaten that has seen them come from behind in three of their last four, effectively knockout games.

Conversely, South Africa have had a relative cruise to their first final since they won on home soil at the first attempt 12 years ago.

They have undoubted class and power in every department, but, while England really do have nothing to lose after coming back from the dead, if the Springboks were to return home with runners-up medals they would be considered abject failures.

Upon those contrasting mindsets will the final probably be decided, because if this World Cup has shown one thing, it is that previous results count for nothing.

FAMILIAR FOES

The teams should certainly know each other's games, as this will be their sixth meeting in less than a year. The last four have gone the way of the Springboks, including the Sept. 14 shocker on the same Stade de France pitch.

Since then England's personnel have not changed enormously -- nine of the starting team are in today's XV -- but in terms of attitude, belief and cohesion they are light years away.

"We are playing better, the players are much closer together, we've moved on massively," coach Brian Ashton said.

"These players were written off before the tournament, during the warm-ups and in the pool games but they've come back and proved everybody wrong," he said.

England have enormous experience, including six starters who tasted glory in the 2003 final, and in Jonny Wilkinson, a talismanic flyhalf who ensures they remain a deadly threat even when forced to defend for long periods as they did against France in their semi-final.

South Africa coach Jake White recognizes that advantage, but is more than satisfied with what his squad has to offer. He is also certain they will not suffer the paralysis of expectation that has ended the dreams of so many other favorites here.

Player for player, the Springboks would probably have the advantage. Both packs are formidable, but their pairing of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha lead the way in the lineout.

Ever-dangerous fullback Jason Robinson is England's chief threat, but Fourie Du Preez has been the best scrumhalf in the tournament and the rest of the Springbok backline have an enviable ability to mix up quick hands and deep kicking at will.

Bryan Habana, who needs one try to break Jonah Lomu's 1999 tournament record of eight, is in peak form, Percy Montgomery has been a reliable goalkicker while the precocious and Francois Steyn could decide the match in one mad moment -- in either side's favor.

EXODUS

An exodus of England fans was expected to march on Paris for today's final, while those staying behind were set to pack out pubs as rugby fever grips the nation.

Be it scrambling for tickets, hatching plans to defy striking French transport workers, cleaning shops out of replica jerseys or pubs out of beer, millions were set to join in the occasion.

With the England soccer team's hopes of qualifying for next year's European Championships left in tatters by Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to Russia, sports lovers were looking to the rugby team for a massive shot in the arm of national pride.

Pubs were gearing up for another bumper weekend as fans flock to bars to catch the action on the big screen. Last weekend 33 million pints were swilled as drinkers watched the 14-9 semi-final victory over hosts France -- and celebrated afterwards.

London's O2 Arena will host the biggest giant screening of the final outside Paris, with fans required to register for the 5,000-odd free tickets at the former Millennium Dome.

Fans watching the final at home or in the pub could spend up to £200 million (US$400 million) on food and drink if England win -- and £150 million even if they lose, the Centre for Economics and Business Research calculated.

The fight is on for tickets, but two people at least should have no bother getting through the Stade de France turnstiles.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a rugby-following Scot, has sent his best wishes to the England team and intends to turn up.

Rugby-mad Prince Harry, third in line to the throne, is also expected to attend, though he may face a domestic ruck with South Africa-raised girlfriend Chelsy Davy, whose 22nd birthday he reportedly sidestepped last Saturday to watch England play France.

His grandmother Queen Elizabeth II's subjects are having a tougher time getting tickets.

They are on offer on the Internet auction site eBay at up to £5,000 for a pair.

The average price of individual sales peaked on Saturday, Sunday and Monday at just under £1,800, with the average for the past two weeks being £1,100.57.

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