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PARIS - England captain Phil Vickery believes the squad's memories of winning the World Cup in 2003 and their previous matches against South Africa will count for little when they face the Springboks in Saturday's final here at the Stade de France.
England, bidding to become the first
side to win back-to-back World Cups, lost 36-0 last month to South Africa in a Pool match - their record defeat in the 20-year history of the tournament.
It was also their fourth straight reverse against South Africa, who've yet to lose a match at this World Cup where they are looking to win the Webb Ellis trophy for the second time.
But that fixture at the Stade de France, the venue for Saturday's final, saw England without both prop forward Vickery, because of suspension, and goalkicking fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, due to injury.
The duo are two of the four survivors in the England starting line-up - the others are full-back Jason Robinson and lock Ben Kay - that were in the 1st XV that took the field for the 20-17 extra-time win over Australia in the final in Sydney four years ago.
"I'd like to be be able to erase the memory of a 36-0 defeat but unfortunately they don't go away," said Vickery.
"In all honesty, South Africa deserved their victory because they played well and took their opportunities. Since then, a huge amount has changed for us," Vickery added.
"I don't know that it's going to be a motivation, it certainly still hurts."
"It's a World Cup final on Saturday. Whatever has happened in the past counts for nothing, it's a one-off game."
The only South African player set to be involved this weekend who knows what it's like to win a World Cup is prop Os du Randt, a member of the side that triumphed on home soil in 1995.
However, Vickery said that for England, who upset the odds by beating Australia and France in their quarter-final and semi-final respectively, to "rely on past experiences, is a pretty scary place to go".
The 31-year-old Wasps front-row added: "I know what it took last time. This team's here, we want to make our own history.
"Everybody in the squad knows that and we won't leave anything in the changing room, we will leave everything on the field."
And Vickery knows that if England can put Wilkinson in range, another upset win is possible.
"He's a huge bonus in any side and someone you are always going to go to," Vickery said. "If it doesn't go over, it's not through lack of effort. As a captain, he certainly gives you assurance."
England were able to dominate both the Wallabies and hosts France up front and, even during their dispiriting loss in their last meeting with South Africa the forwards were competitive at both scrum and lineout.
Nevertheless, Vickery believes the Springboks, coached by Jake White and with former Australia coach Eddie Jones, on the losing side four years ago, also in their camp, pose the strongest all-round threat of any team England have faced at this World Cup.
"South Africa are a fantastic side and they've proven that. To know what true Test match rugby is about, you've got to play against South Africa because it is one of the most physical games of rugby you'll ever face.
"The scary thing looking at their side is one, their experience, combined with the power and speed, both in the back-row and the backs.
"They've got kickers who don't just kick for the posts but kick for the corners too. They seem a very complete side and it's very difficult to find any weaknesses there.
"They've been together a long time, Jake White has done a great job on that front, and Eddie Jones coming in, his record speaks for itself, and he's obviously helped them hugely as well.
"We're under no illusions about how difficult it will be this week but we've faced this every week from the Samoa game, so we look forward to the challenge and hopefully we can do ourselves a lot of justice."
- AFP