How they got there

There have been two very different routes for the two teams to make it to this World Cup final, one of self-assured arrogance, and one carried on heart and passion.

We cast our eyes back over the past seven weeks and remember especially just how unlikely this final appeared to be at the start of it all!

Pool stages

England 28 USA 10, Lens, September 8

Brian Ashton's men made an unconvincing start to their defence of the world title against the spirited Eagles and were not even as good as the score suggested. Not until the closing minutes of the first half did tries from Jason Robinson and man of the match Olly Barkley put England in control before flanker Tom Rees crossed again after the break.

South Africa 59 Samoa 7, Paris, September 9

The Springboks weathered an early storm from the Samoans to eventually run out comfortable winners thanks largely to Bryan Habana's four-try blitz. The deadly wing began the rout late in the first half and Percy Montgomery, who ended with a brace, effectively broke the islanders with a touchdown on the first-half whistle. Jaque Fourie and JP Pietersen also touched down.

England 0 South Africa 36, Paris, September 14

Pointless, seemingly clueless and utterly outclassed - the thrashing by the Springboks was the nadir of England's World Cup history. Juan Smith set the ball rolling with an early try and JP Pietersen sealed the win with a further brace. Masterful scrum-half Fourie du Preez inspired the Boks' three scores, and it was sweet revenge over the side who had beaten themat the same stage four years previously. Jake White's men were a class apart all over the field - the scoreline did not flatter either side.

England 44 Samoa 22, Nantes, September 22

Jonny Wilkinson returned from injury to score 24 points in a predictably physical encounter against the talented islanders. It took less than two minutes for him to put in Martin Corry in the corner and the fly-half's grubber allowed Paul Sackey to touch down before the break. Further late tries from the same pair finally put Samoa to the sword.

South Africa 30 Tonga 25, Lens, September 22

One of the games of the tournament. Having left several of their big guns on the bench after their efforts of the week before, South Africa struggled to deal with the physicality of the skilful Tongans. Tied at 10-10 in the second half after Ruan Pienaar's try, a burst of 20 unanswered points in 15 minutes - including touchdowns from Smith, Bobby Skinstad and Pienaar - finally accounted for the islanders, who still had the spirit to mount a late fightback.

England 36 Tonga 20, Paris, September 28

Another closely-fought, bruising battle, and another brace for rising star Sackey - collecting a brilliant cross-field kick from Wilkinson for the first and then racing away from his own 22 after picking up a dropped ball. Mathew Tait and Andy Farrell also went over to clinch a quarter-finals spot.

South Africa 64 USA 15, Montpellier, September 30

The Springboks were simply too good for the plucky Eagles as they ran in nine tries. Schalk Burger, Francois Steyn, Habana (two), CJ Van der Linde, du Preez, Fourie (two) and Smith were the try-scorers. It was, however, the sight of Habana being out-paced by USA wing Takudzwa Ngwenya for one of the Eagles' two tries that will live longest in the memory.

Quarter-finals

England 12 Australia 10, Marseille, October 6

Wilkinson kicked the Red Rose to a stunning win over the much-fancied Aussies at Stade Velodrome as England's forwards battered their opponents into submission. The Wallabies' Lote Tuqiri scored the only try late in the first half but Wilkinson - who became the tournament's all-time leading scorer during the match - hit the target with four penalties to seal a famous victory.

South Africa 37 Fiji 20, Marseille, October 7

Another epic clash with Pacific islanders, who were in the hunt right until the last 10 minutes when tries from Smith and Butch James sealed a last-four place. Scores from Fourie, John Smit and Pietersen had put the Boks in control until a brilliant third-quarter fightback by the direct and talented Fijians.

Semi-finals

England 14 France 9, Paris, October 13

Again the underdogs, England weathered a fearsome assault from the hosts and claimed the win thanks to a late penalty and drop goal from that man Wilkinson. Josh Lewsey collected a wickedly bouncing grubber to piledrive over inside two minutes, but the boot of Lionel Beauxis meant that the French led going into the closing stages. After another mediocre kicking performance up to that point, Wilkinson then took charge in the closing five minutes to see his side claim a shock place in the final.

South Africa 37 Argentina 13, Paris, October 14

In a scrappy, error-strewn encounter at Stade de France, South Africa ruthlessly punished their opponents' gaffes to march on. The Pumas dominated early on until Du Preez intercepted a wild pass and sprinted the length of the field to score, while a turnover and a chip and run allowed Habana in and a spilled pass led to Danie Rossouw adding a third before the break. A late second from Habana was the icing on the cake.

The final

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