England's amazing turnaround

If you had asked me six weeks ago if I thought we would reach the final of the World Cup I would have had to have thought long and hard,

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Before I said yes. Brian Ashton said these words during the press conference after England's memorable victory against France on Saturday.

Trying to make any kind of prediction during this Rugby World Cup has proved hazardous for those of us using form and common sense as a guide - but predicting the end of England's tenuous reign as world champions seemed the dead cert. Not so now.

Among my many mistakes - I will admit there have been several - include the bold declaration that New Zealand were pretty much untouchable; that Australia's backs would scythe through England's improved, but far from impenetrable, defence in the quarter-final and that France, at home, would scrape past us in the semi.

I was also confident Wales would beat Fiji and that France would beat Argentina in the tournament's opener.

Like many people - admit it, you were probably one too - I have been made to look, rather foolish, at times.

Confounding rugby logic to the limit has been the efforts of the resurgent and transformed England.

They were ranked ninth in the world at one stage in the competition and even some of the most adventurous punters were unwilling to take up the 66-1 that was on offer for England to win the tournament.

My gambling sources inform me that some lucky punter laid £12 on England to retain their crown after the 36-0 aberration and got odds of 279-1.

England are now 9-4 to win. That alone tells how far Ashton's side have come and if he genuinely believed that the side we saw against the USA, and the one that lost to nil against the Springboks, had the credentials to reach the last two then he is a more forward-thinking and brilliant coach than anyone has ever given him credit for.

I am still loath to believe that England's transformation is as much down to him as it is good old-fashioned stubbornness and belligerence but perhaps that is being too harsh on the man who now hovers on the brink of a knighthood.

Whispers from inside the England camp suggest it was the players who pleaded to play a more multi-faceted game against the Wallabies and while Ashton was able to put a plan into effect, one wonders if he would have come up with the same ideas had he been left to his own volition. We will never know.

The clever plans in place against the French, a team who comfortably beat England home and away before the tournament, seemed to be to tackle, harrass, tackle and harrass some more.

The effort was simply astonishing, more so than the tactics.

One thing is for certain, 'Sir' Brian will need to have his wits about him to overcome the Springboks on Saturday with something a little more complex - but at least there is now something to latch onto in the defiant coach which offers more than a glimpse of hope.

The hunger England have shown to improve in the past few weeks has rightly earned them the (often grudging) respect of other nations.

If the early criticism of the champions was warranted after some inept displays - and it undoubtedly was - so the plaudits now coming their way are richly deserved.

One more obstacle stands in the way of ultimate glory: The Springboks, the side who thrashed England in the group stages a few weeks ago.

For the champions, a title the side now warrants, the game offers the chance of redemption as well as glory.

From the slough of despond to the heights of world Rugby once more, a win on Saturday would mark the comeback of all comebacks in English sporting history while erasing one of the most damaging results.

It will be difficult - but definitely achieveable.

South Africa are similar in strength to Australia and France, but probably behind New Zealand. They were tested by Fiji in the quarters for prolonged periods - but not really by the Argentinians in yesterday's semi.

Despite that, anyone who saw that game would admit that a scoreline of 37-13 smacked of flattery and was only made possible after the Pumas had been forced to chase the game and conceded some interception scores.

In short, South Africa were not that good.

And they were not that good against England in the groups, either, but were made to look like world beaters when faced with a low-on-confidence, one dimensional and incoherent side, much unlike the one that will confront them at the weekend.

There is no point in looking back to the ease with which they steamrolled England weeks ago.

South Africa coach Jake White arrogantly removed his star players from the one-sided contest and memories of Bryan Habana and the dazzling Fourie de Preez being hauled off with plenty of time left and with the game won will fuel England's preparations before the showdown.

When the two giant sides meet again in Paris, there will be a different feel about the encounter.

Jonny Wilkinson will be back for a start, which alone changes the entire complexion and direction of this England side.

It is doubtful that the starting fifteen will give any more effort in the final than in the group game, but their strengths will be better channelled with Wilkinson calling the shots.

The fly-half would be the first to admit that his performances have been well below his usual high standards in this tournament - but he brings more to the side than just timely drop goals.

He is the team's eyes, ears and vision: The quarterback, its talisman.

And on the biggest stage he is the players the others feed off.

South Africa are a hard, mean, unforgiving side, a team who have come to this World Cup and protected their reputation admirably.

They have done what their big southern hemisphere rivals have failed to do and they have in their ranks some of the most explosive, talented and powerful exponents in the game.

But so do Australia and so do France. And so do England.

In Andrew Sheridan, one of the few correct predictions I have made, we have seen the emergence of the world's leading loose-head prop.

Simon Shaw, the man mountain, has been a star of the tournament and Lewis Moody's long-awaited re-instatement as a world class openside could not have been better timed.

Then there's Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey and, of course, our Jonny.

But it has not been individuals that have repaired the country's damaged rugby image in the past few weeks - it has been a team effort based on bloody-mindedness and no little class and guile.

Those who say England are 'just an ugly side' on the many web forums carrying predictably anti-English comments are talking nonsense: England have made ugly beautiful in France.

Perhaps 'beauty' is defined differently south of the equator.

England's scrummaging prowess and counter-rucking against Australia, and scrambled defence against the French, might not be the same as watching free flowing backs running through porous defences - but can be just as beautiful.

Grace, graft and composure have equal standings on the rugby pitch and that it is why Australia and New Zealand - the runaway tournament favourites - are back home.

England will need all three of these traits to have any chance of winning the final.

Stopping Habana and du Preez will be high on England's list of priorities and nullifying Burger and Rossouw will be too.

But Ashton knew six weeks ago that his side would be here - so presumably he has planned for the occasion.