England will be trying to win consecutive Rugby World Cups when they meet the Springboks in the final in Paris early on Sunday morning.
The two teams met in the second pool round of the cup, when South Africa demolished England 36–0.
England then struggled against both Samoa and Tonga in other pool matches, earning the dubious title of Dad's Army. But then the so-called boring Brits bashed Australia out of the cup in their quarter-final match, before doing the same to France in a semi-final on Sunday.
After demolishing England, the Springboks lost their way somewhat, but bounced back early Monday morning to easily defeat Argentina in the second semi-final to win a place in the final.
Usually, Australians would support the Springboks against England – after all, ARU boss John O'Neill was criticised earlier in the tournament for saying Australians hate the English.
However, South Africa are co-coached by this year's Queensland coach – and the immediate-past Wallaby coach – Eddie Jones. As well, Jones has been highly critical of the Wallaby players, the coaching staff and the ARU. Despite this being the era of the "international" professional coach, Jones' defection to the republic has been seen as a betrayal. In light of that, who will Australian fans support in the final? The "hated" English or Eddie's Africans?
Perhaps even the fanatics will skip the match and sleep in on Sunday. Though I hope not.
So who will win? I think England, despite being thrashed by the Boks only a month ago. Their forwards now look more imposing than the Springboks, who pride themselves on forward play.
As well, "old" is beginning to sound more like "experienced". And in tight, finals matches, single-minded experience is worth more than anything else. It's like the fox and the hare; the hare knows many things but the fox knows one big thing.
And if England dominates the set pieces, particularly the scrums and mauls, that will do much to nullify the combative Springboks loose forwards, including the great Schalk Burger. Thus pressured, I imagine the Boks will loose some of their composure.
England, on the other hand, are almost one-dimensional, which is a liability – but it is also a huge asset. They have a simple, but effective game plan and they have the big, bruising forwards to execute it.
Behind the pack, superstar flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson will steer England around the field at the Stade de France in Paris.
I expect an intriguing battle of attrition, with the backs being used primarily as back-up forwards. Anyway, that is what England will want.
As well, there is one final wild card. By now, the Eddie Jones magic might be working on the Boks, unravelling their off-field unity in an inexplicable, but perceptible fashion. He did the same with Queensland this year, coaching them to the bottom of the Super 14. And he achieved similar results with the Wallabies when he coached them to international ignominy.
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