KEY POINTS:
The overwhelming favourites for Saturday's World Cup final, South Africa are wary of England's mental strength after the holders staged a remarkable comeback to make it to the game that matters.
Coach Jake White, who kept his faith with the same 15 that started last weekend's 37-13 semi-final
win over Argentina, knows England are a different proposition since the return of Jonny Wilkinson.
England's clinical first five-eighths, who missed his side's 36-0 hammering by the Springboks in a pool game because of an ankle injury, kicked England into the final and is one of his team's several players with experience of lifting the trophy four years ago.
"England's players have won a World Cup away from home before... and that is a huge advantage," White said.
"They must be in a great mindset. They were dead and buried two weeks ago. They came back, they beat Australia and France in two consecutive weekends."
Veteran centre Mike Catt, who was the last player to touch the ball in England's triumph in the previous final in Sydney, admitted his team had to be regarded as outsiders.
"By the end of the South Africa game we were probably ranked about 18 out of the 20 teams and now we are in the final," he said, pointing out that England had looked lost before recovering in spectacular fashion.
"Last time we were firm favourites but this time we are sort of underdogs," added the 36-year-old, who will be the oldest man to play in a final.
Before England and South Africa take the limelight, hosts France and surprise package Argentina will look to bow out with honour in the third-place playoff at Parc des Princes on Friday.
"We had hoped to follow another route but here we are," said France captain Raphael Ibanez, who is expected to retire from the international game after the Pumas clash.
"It's difficult to accept for all of us but our motivation is still there," he added. "We want to sign off with our heads held high."
France, who have an opportunity to avenge an upset defeat by the Pumas in the tournament's opening match, will have to make do without Damien Traille. The powerful centre has been ruled out by a knee injury and will be replaced by David Marty.
Argentina, who have appeared to run out of steam in their semi-final defeat by South Africa and even in their quarter-final win over Scotland, might suffer against opponents determined to show pride.
"The bottom line is how the (teams) are in their heads after this long (World Cup) journey", Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda, who is moving on to the Leicester Tigers, said before his last match at the helm for the Pumas.
- REUTERS