England have the Will to win

WILL GREENWOOD has underlined the fierce determination of England’s World Cup players to leave an indelible mark on sporting history.

Holders and host nation Australia stand between England and a first world title in next Saturday's final at Telstra Stadium.

And while Greenwood is the first to admit that Australia have tended to dominate England at most sports for far too long, an English victory over the Wallabies would make a huge impact on redressing that balance.

Reflecting on the rivalry between the countries, centre Greenwood said: "It's something as a kid you grew up marvelling at. If you look at the Ashes in cricket, the Kangaroos in rugby league, and we always seem to come out the wrong end of it. The ledger always has us on the wrong side in the past 20 or 25 years.

"My brother sent me a text message about remembering Ian Botham in 1981 against Australia, and Daley Thompson at the Olympics in 1980, so we have had our moments, and as players, we would love to have Sydney 2003 etched in the history books. But, I am sure this Australian XV have got something to say about that."

English fans continue to arrive in Sydney by the thousand, with a regular throng of autograph-hunters based outside England's Manly beach-front hotel.

"It's huge, we are getting good luck messages from everyone football teams, cricket teams it's huge, and we can't underestimate what a huge occasion it is," Greenwood added.

"We just hope we will do whatever it takes. If it means winning 3-0, or having to go out and play a lot of rugby, then that's what we want to do. The most important thing on Saturday is winning."

Greenwood, though, also knows that it will require a huge effort against an Australian side bidding for a third world title.

"Australia have got a tremendous back three that, with their league background, love to run with the ball, which is something we have to be wary of," he said.

"They are a quality outfit, but we have to believe that we are a quality outfit as well," he said.