England v SA: key battles

Everyone loves an underdog - even when it is England,

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If many of the more even-minded comments posted on the world's internet rugby forums are to be believed, there seems to have been a shift in how the country's rugby team is being viewed by the world's fans.

They may not be fully paid-up member of the John O'Neill school of diplomacy - but the mental strength that the reigning champions have shown in recent weeks has undeniably earned them a level of respect they have rarely achieved.

It is quite heart-warming stuff. After the chief executive of the ARU famously created the ABE (Anyone But England) headlines with his unnecessarily spiteful remarks about England's popularity, the side's unrivalled resolve has become their most fearsome and feared weapon.

Even the French were praiseworthy. Bernard Lapasset, the president of the French Rugby Union, said of England's 14-9 win: "This match was decided by 10 minutes of brilliance by an exceptional player.

"Bravo to the English, they deserved their win."

Les Bleus second row Fabien Pelous, an old foe, was equally magnanimous when he said that although England did not have the best players in the world, they had the best 'belief system'.

Combine the thoughts of those two pillars of French rugby and you have a microcosm of the England revival: A bit of belief, and a bit of Jonny, can take a team a long way.

It is exactly why this England side is in the final. No one is suggesting that the style of their rugby will ever win over the neutral - even though it has not been nearly as bad in recent weeks as critics have claimed.

There will always be a gnarly and often dubious edge to England forward packs - but it is in the middle of a maul or the squeeze of the scrum that the country's rugby soul exists more than anywhere else on the pitch.

Indeed, it was in such dark and unpleasant places that Engand's revival began after the losing 36-0 to this weekend's opponents.

England rugby has refound its essence after playing without it for about four years and now the side is playing to its strengths.

More importantly, it is winning - and winning when it matters most.

Such traditional qualities are often disparaged in some southern hemisphere quarters, usually by the same people who want to see uncontested scrums, collapsing mauls and 'lateral' (forward) passes.

While the Wallabies and All Blacks sit at home they should note that South Africa, a country whose teams contested the Super 14 final this year, play in a fashion closer to conservative England than the basketball-style adopted in the Tri-Nations' flagship competition.

The Springboks have some of the world's most-lauded game breakers in attacking positions - Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie, for example - but they are more finishers than starters.

Both sides excel in the more sinister areas of the rugby pitch and neither side will be afraid to use muscle to exert their control on Saturday night.

It might be that the force of the two packs will cancel each other out - the clash will be brutal - but as mentioned on these pages yesterday, any predictions in this World Cup have proved the undoing of many a punter. Not least me.

The key battles in the final, though, will be in the same areas as in the group.

As it is impossible for England to be as pitiful as they were on September 14 at Stade de France, the venue for the final, they will also be more closely contested.

Naturally, the half back battle between Fourie du Preez and Andy Gomarsall and Butch James and Jonny Wilkinson will be integral - but the second row conflict between Victor Matfield and Simon Shaw, and the impact in different areas of the pitch that Bryan Habana and Andrew Sheridan make could have the most effect.

Then there's the all important back row battle featuring Schalk Burger and Lewis Moody and Danie Rossouw and Nick Easter.

For every star in the South Africa line-up, it is worth noting that their opposing England man will have followed a rather different route to the final.

The Springboks scrum-half, du Preez, has established himself as the world's best and was instrumental in dismantling England's defence when the two sides met a month ago.

Gomarsall, meanwhile, has had a career as England number nine which embodies the spirit of the current side more than most.

He has been dropped on plenty of occasions and completely overlooked on others.

A year ago, at 32, he was even out of contract after leaving Worcester Warriors and resorted to playing pub rugby sevens tournaments.

It looked as though his rugby career might be over until Harlequins came along.

On Saturday he will step out in the World Cup Final watched by millions and, on the back of outstanding performances against the Wallabies and Les Bleus, he has earned acclaim on the international stage that he has never had.

Simon Shaw and Andrew Sheridan are other indomitable figures that have become the hallmark of this side.

The Wasps giant has lived in the shadow of Martin Johnson and Danny Grewcock for much of his career and has also played second fiddle to Louis Deacon, Alex Brown, Steve Borthwick and Chris Jones for England despite excelling and winning trophies at club level.

But given a run in the side he has proved himself a worthy successor to England's best ever lock.

If anyone in England's armoury can nullify Victor Matfield it is 6ft 8in Shaw.

Sheridan's explosive emergence on the scene is more curious.

At 6ft 5in he is not the usual build of a prop and in the formative stages of his career played in the back row.

He was even told by the now Gloucester coach, Dean Ryan, that he would have more chance of earning a living as a blindside flanker.

If the final comes down to set-pieces, as well it might given the similarity in style, the athletic Springboks are likely to edge the lineout meaning England simply have to win the scrum.

Sheridan will be vital. Danie Rossouw and Schalk Burger, who did not play in the group due to suspension, pose a big presence with ball in hand and at the breakdown.

Lewis Moody did not play his best rugby under Andy Robinson and did not come into this tournament as first choice, nor was number eight Nick Easter a shoo-in.

While Moody has returned to his indefatigable days of old, former National League One number 8 Easter has grown in stature after an unimpressive start to international career, particularly in games where he faced Rossouw.

But he showed against the Aussies - and France - why Brian Ashton had faith in him, and anything less than that level of performance will hinder England's chances.

Many members of this squad have been nearly men, or deemed not good enough (Paul Sackey), or declared past their best - Mike Catt, Andy Farrell and Lawrence Dallaglio - while others have had endured more emotional torment than an X-Factor finalist.

Wilkinson, for example, having won one World Cup, has spent the most part of the last four seasons injured.

The England side for the final is made up of players who have been discarded and dropped or were second or third choice.

They have been bruised and battered; embarrassed, humiliated and written-off from day one.

But, somehow, almost unbelievably, they are still there - and in the final. Stories emanating from the England set-up suggest three letters have dominated the thoughts of the players since that embarrassing 36-0 hammering.

They are STW and they stand for Shock the World.

Brian Ashton's side have already done that - by being so poor at the start of the tournament and being so clever in the knockout stages.

It would indeed be a shock if they overcame the Boks - but who is to say the ABE bandwagon will not roll on to make rugby history?