The tactician opted for continuity in selecting the same run-on side which bullied the All Blacks a week prior during their 19-7 semi-final victory on the same ground.

The only change to the match-23 is on the bench where Ben Spencer comes in to replace the injured Willi Heinz as cover at scrumhalf.

The Springboks in their turn opted to replace the winger, Sbu Nkosi, with Cheslin Kolbe, who missed out on the semi-final win over Wales. Kolbe has recovered from the ankle injury which ruled him out, and the South Africans welcome the x-factor the fleet-footed speedster will bring to the party.

The two teams will meet in a final for the first time since 2007 when the Boks beat England 15-6 in Paris to win the World Cup for a second time.

England has only managed to win the World Cup once, back in 2003, albeit they are playing in their fourth final.

Although the Springboks are playing in just their third final, they have never lost in the final before, and this will be a bit of a psychological boost for them.

England has played in 49 World Cup Tests, winning 36, losing 13 for a 73% win ratio. The Boks have played in 42 World Cup Tests, winning 35 and losing just 7 for a win ratio of 83%.

Saturday’s massive World Cup final in Yokohama kicks off at 11:00.

England - 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Courtney Lawes, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Replacements - 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Dan Cole, 19 George Kruis, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Jonathan Joseph.

Replacements - 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Replacements - 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Franco Mostert, 21 Francois Louw, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Frans Steyn.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport