England go into the World Cup final against South Africa bidding to become the first nation to retain the Webb Ellis trophy and perhaps the most unlikely world champions in history.

The Springboks have brought consistency to the tournament that the likes of Australia, New Zealand and France could not match and provide the stiffest test yet of England's newfound form.

Four years ago Jonny Wilkinson kicked Clive Woodward's efficient side to glory Down Under. It was known that the experienced team would be broken up by retirements, but nobody could have predicted the debilitating years that followed.

Wilkinson, easily the best-known back in the world, suffered injury after injury and has remarkably featured in only 12 Tests since that day in Sydney. Despite missing opening matches against the United States and South Africa he has miraculously come back into his own for the remainder of the defence.

If in 2003 England relied upon him as the principal point-scorer with his boot - he now holds the World Cup record for any player - they now need him more than ever as the glue that holds the team together. His ferocious tackling and still-adept kicking game are precious components of the white machine and should he leave the field, England would be in trouble.

After an uninspiring opening win over the States, the wheels fell off spectacularly against the Springboks with Mike Catt failing to fill Wilkinson's role at 10 and rugby league convert Andy Farrell also struggling as he assisted with the kicking. The final score in Paris was 36-0.

Percy Montgomery kicked half of those points and is the equivalent of Wilkinson in 2003, matching a cool head and talent to keep the score ticking over. England, who sorted out their defence no end in the knockout stages against Australia and France, have to clean up further at the breakdown to avoid slipping behind as happened in the pool stage.

Since that evening England's turnaround has been impressive at worst and at times mesmerising. Brian Ashton's attack found its rhythm and in wing Paul Sackey a try scorer worthy of a top side.

South Africa of course boast the tournament's leading try scorer in their own wing, the jet-heeled Bryan Habana, although the only match he has failed to cross in was against the Red Rose. He equalled Jonah Lomu's World Cup record of eight scores with a pair against Argentina in the semi-final and will put the fear of God into the massed English supporters in Paris and at home when he gets on his bike.

The scrum was key for England against Australia and will prove one of the main battlegrounds again. Captain Phil Vickery and the imposing Os du Randt, sole remaining veteran of the Springboks' only World Cup triumph in 2005, will go head to head as the sides seek dominance with their respectively massive packs.

The sheer enthusiam of Lewis Moody could give England an edge up front that rivals - if it differs from - the contribution of Neil Back at openside flanker in 2003.

Following the demolition of Samoa in their first game, Jake White's outfit have only hiccupped against Tonga, when they rested several leading players yet still won 30-25.

Fourie du Preez was one of those who sat out entirely - the scrum-half will be as instrumental as ever feeding Montgomery tonight though while Andy Gomarsall, who was playing pub rugby only a year ago and is one of the comeback stories of France 2007, is in great form too for England.

Another fairytale is that of Jason Robinson. The former Sale captain will retire after the game and must be astonished to find himself in another final - he scored England's only try in the last one from the wing - after the shocking start.

Robinson was one of the few players that impressed against South Africa last time out until he pulled up with a hamstring injury and many feared they had seen the last of him on a rugby field; however he returned to great effect against Australia and provided experienced, sure hands at full-back against France.

There is only one change to the starting XV's from the semi-finals, with England bringing in Mark Cueto for Josh Lewsey, who pulled a hamstring against France.

The match is one of the most anticipated in history and there will be a huge amount of pressure on players from both teams in the early stages, when kicking out of hand and discipline in defence will be especially crucial.

England will go out in the Stade de France tonight with a game-plan in mind, the same one that saw them through to the semi-finals and final when nobody expected it of them.

It is a fairly conservative plan based around a strong forward platform and the kicking of Wilkinson and Mike Catt.

England dominated the forward battle in their quarter-final and semi-final, but there is no guarantee they will have the same advantage against the powerful Boks pack.

Man-for-man, South Africa go into the final as favourites. But England have grown accustomed to the underdogs' tag and could complete one of the great sporting comebacks of all time with another surprise win - which would be the ultimate achievement in rugby.

South Africa: 15-Percy Montgomery, 14-JP Pietersen, 13-Jaque Fourie, 12-Francois Steyn, 11-Bryan Habana, 10-Butch James, 9-Fourie du Preez, 8-Danie Rossouw, 7-Juan Smith, 6-Schalk Burger, 5-Victor Matfield, 4-Bakkies Botha, 3-CJ van der Linde, 2-John Smit (capt), 1-Os du Randt.

Replacements: 16-Bismarck du Plessis, 17-Jannie du Plessis, 18-Johann Muller, 19-Wikus van Heerden, 20-Ruan Pienaar, 21-Andre Pretorius, 22-Wynand Olivier.

England: 15-Jason Robinson, 14-Paul Sackey, 13-Mathew Tait, 12-Mike Catt, 11-Mark Cueto, 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Andy Gomarsall, 8-Nick Easter, 7-Lewis Moody, 6-Martin Corry, 5-Ben Kay, 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Phil Vickery (capt), 2-Mark Regan, 1-Andrew Sheridan.

Replacements: 16-George Chuter, 17-Matt Stevens, 18-Lawrence Dallaglio, 19-Joe Worsley, 20-Peter Richards, 21-Toby Flood, 22-Dan Hipkiss.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport