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Martin Corry: All smiles before the big day
Martin Corry has revealed England's "major motivation" for their showdown against South Africa on Saturday - fear of failing to do justice to the tag of world champions.
England, remarkably, have arrived as World Cup finalists despite losing 25 of their 46 Tests since Martin Johnson held aloft the Webb Ellis Trophy four years ago.
The 25th defeat - and unquestionably the most painful - came just five weeks ago when they crashed 36-0 to Pool A winners South Africa.
But despite facing overwhelming odds, they now find themselves one win away from creating rugby history as the first country to be crowned world champions twice in succession.
"Since 2003, we haven't done the crown of world champions justice," said Corry.
"That has been our major motivation.
"But it is not about what we've done between the World Cups, it's about now, going into this game and doing it purely for ourselves.
"It cannot come around quickly enough. Playing in a final is everything.
"It's like you spend your whole life dreaming and waiting to play in a World Cup final, but when you get there you try to downplay it because you don't want to let the occasion get to you.
"When you reach a World Cup final, you want to be playing your best rugby.''
England recovered from the Springboks drubbing by reeling off successive wins against Samoa, Tonga, Australia and France.
However South Africa continued on an unbeaten march, which included brushing aside Fiji and Argentina in the knock-out stages.
They have scored 263 points in six games, compared with England's 134, and posted 33 tries - 21 more than Corry and company.
On top of that, South Africa also possess the competition's top points scorer and try-scorer in Percy Montgomery and Bryan Habana, respectively.
"I think what they (South Africa) have done is enhance their reputation even more," said Corry.
"They've always had a direct physical game, but in the last year or two they've started playing a wider attacking style of play.
"There is a big physical confrontation up front. We didn't match that in the pool game, but we've got another chance at it now.
"Where we have made strides is in our perception of ourselves.
"It is all very well sitting here talking about our progression though, but it means nothing if we don't produce on Saturday.
"Without sounding too cliched, when you play for England the next game is a really special game. You want to do your best.
"Since the South Africa game, it's been great, and we don't want it to stop here.''
One of the biggest challenges for England tomorrow will be counting down the clock to a 9pm kick-off, local time.
"With a nine o'clock kick-off, there is a lot of down-time," said Corry.
"If I had the choice, every kick-off would be at 12 (noon), when you can just get up, have breakfast, get on the bus and go to the game.
"Thankfully, my family are coming over, so I'll get up and play with the kids for an hour, have some lunch, and kid ourselves that we're going to get some sleep, but really we will be thinking about the game.
"It is about just doing whatever we can to stay relaxed really, staying focused and trying not to get too hyped up, just thinking about what might eventuate.''
Given the way England have performed during the past month, then anything has to be considered possible.
If they are still in contention entering the final quarter, then the impossible dream will remain very much alive.
South Africa though, look to have just a little too much in their armoury, and if they can hold the England forwards - something that Australia and France couldn't manage - they will surely be crowned world champions for the first time since 1995.
But England, whatever the outcome at Stade de France, are already winners.
