We deserve to be in final, says Vickery

WORLD Cup underdogs England are ready to complete one of sport’s greatest comebacks today, with captain Phil Vickery declaring: “We thoroughly deserve our chance to be here.”

Just five weeks after South Africa —– their opponents in tonight’s final at Stade de France —– smashed them in record-breaking 36-0 fashion, England are remarkably one win away from glory.

By Vickery’s own admission, England were “staring down the barrel” after that Springboks debacle, but successive victories over Samoa, Tonga, Australia and France mean they are on course to retain the Webb Ellis Trophy.