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The worthiest winners?

Here it is! Who deserves it?

South Africa are on the brink of claiming their second Rugby World Cup when they face current world champions England, who also have a chance of claiming a record back-to-back titles on Saturday - but who deserves it more?

With tournament favourites New Zealand boarding an early flight home following their quarter-final upset to France, the Webb Ellis trophy is there for the taking.

Even more so after England put Australia to the sword thanks to forward grit and Jonny Wilkinson's boot in the other 'shock' quarter-final win two weeks ago.

Only Australia have had the privilege of winning the sought after Webb Ellis trophy twice: in 1991 and 1999 respectively. Two teams now have a chance to equal that record.

But what decides whether a World Cup-winning team is even worthy of their crown?
Results? Performance? Character?

Looking at the two Finalists for Saturday's bid for World domination, one would think the rugby champions for the next four years will have earned their respect through all of the above. So let's see who has the edge...

Results

England have not had the best of times since winning the World Cup in 2003, and if it is the results that one would go by - the defending champs are also-rans.

England's four-year reign produced the worst results in England's professional history, and as far as title-holders post-RWC are concerned, suffering defeats to every major rugby nation, including a first loss to Argentina at Twickenham.

Over the last two years and before the World Cup, they had won just six matches out of 18 (two of which were against Italy).

Unsuccessful Six Nations campaigns, disastrous tours and a poor run of eight losses out of nine matches was the tasteless icing on a moulding cake for the men in white.

And don't let their current world ranking fool you either. Placed third behind New Zealand and South Africa, this is England's highest ranking since they lifted the World Cup four years ago and called the number one spot their own.

England sank into the ranking abyss, finally ending up sitting at a lowly seventh place for the year ending in 2006.

It has not been all roses for South Africa either, but the Springboks made up for their dismal 2003 World Cup by taking Tri-Nations honours the following year.

The Springbok resurgence was honoured with a sweep of the major International Rugby Board (IRB) awards. The Boks were named IRB World Team of the Year, Jake White was named IRB World Coach of the Year, and flanker Schalk Burger was named IRB World Player of the Year.

This of course was no knighthood à la Clive Woodward or OBE to 30 players crammed on a double-decker bus, but in rugby circles it counts as a lot more.

However, a five-game losing streak in 2006, including a 49-0 drubbing to the Wallabies, are memories the Springboks would want to forget.

But victories over the All Blacks (twice) and last year's win over England (that cancelled out seven straight defeats to the English since June 2000), gives the Boks a bit more respectability over their northern hemisphere rivals in the 'results' department.

Performance

Moving forward to the World Cup and looking at the two teams' performances, South Africa enter the Stade de France as the only nation undefeated in the tournament. Both finalists come from the same group, and both had tough opposition in the play-off stages.

After topping their pool with bonus-point victories over Samoa, Tonga and the USA, as well as a crushing 36-0 defeat of England, South Africa took their place on top of Pool A.

England's performance to reach the quarter-final was slightly less convincing and - with no disrespect to the team or their fans - one must be honest and say that their place in the World Cup Final has come as a bit of a surprise.

One can argue that Jake White's troops had an easier route to the Final compared to England's meetings with Australia and hosts France in the quarters and semis respectively.

But in South Africa's defence, nobody needs reminding that the Springboks' opposition - in the form of Fiji and Argentina - were responsible for causing a few upsets of their own.

Fiji ended Wales' hopes in a thrilling spectacle of rugby, while Argentina came out undefeated in the 'Pool of Death' after putting away France and Ireland.

However, based on England's two outings against Australia and France alone, the 'English Bulldogs' showed there is still plenty of bite left in them to sniff out a consecutive World Cup win.

But do you win the vote based on two performances? South Africa have only managed to really 'click' for an entire 80 minutes once during this world cup in the 36-0 win against England.

Both Tonga and Fiji gave South Africa a run for their money, while Argentina - just like France did against England - played poorly.

Jake White stated after the game that it was good knowing his side can still pull off a win when they play badly - enough said.

South Africa and England will really need to step up their game this weekend if they are to be remembered for performance as well as result.

Character.

England take the character award for their performances against Australia and France that shined so brightly, Australian and French hearts melted.

It was the belief knowing they could pull off the impossible and defy all the odds to make what can be best described as a fairytale journey into the Final.

But so far not all fairytales have finished with a happy ending at this World Cup as France and Argentina found out last weekend.

So where does that leave us?

South Africa have proved that they are way ahead on the world stage as far as results are concerned, leaving England way behind.

Performances at this World Cup have been a mixed bag of tricks for both teams which have left the rugby planet far from spellbound.

And then there is England who have fought out two victories in two consecutive matches worthy of a Purple Heart.

If my calculations serve me correctly - that makes it a tie!

But there can only be one winner as both teams have found out in their extra-time World Cup finals they took part in - both ending with a famous drop-goal.

So who will be the favourites to win? I would have to say South Africa on this occasion.

But who deserves to win? Your views, please!

By Dave Morris