England’s 2003 hero Jonny Wilkinson takes Owen Farrell through kicking drills ahead of Rugby World Cup final against South Africa
Jonny Wilkinson dropped in on England training to provide some last-minute inspiration ahead of the Rugby World Cup final against South Africa on Saturday.
The 40-year-old was the hero in 2003 when the Red Rose won the competition for the only time in their history, scoring the winning drop goal at the death against Australia.
Owen Farrell and co. will be ready to replicate those scenes if necessary after Wilkinson took them through their paces on Friday.
The iconic former fly-half, widely considered one of the greatest kickers of all-time, was on hand to give a masterclass to Farrell, George Ford and Ben Youngs at England's training base in Tokyo.
Many expect a tight encounter in Yokohama on Saturday, as the sport's top two ranked teams go head to head in a repeat of the 2007 final, which was won by South Africa.
The 2003 showpiece against Australia was only the second final ever to go to extra-time - and Wilkinson was able to hold his nerve despite the nail-biting tension.
He also scored four penalties in the match and Farrell, who could not have a better teacher for his last training session before the showdown, will hope for similar composure in Japan.
Farrell leads the Red Rose into the climax to from inside centre having recovered the dead leg sustained against New Zealand with Youngs and Ford forming the half-backs.
The Red Rose completed one of the biggest wins in English rugby union history last weekend with a convincing victory over defending champions New Zealand in Yokohama – the All Blacks’ first defeat in a Rugby World Cup for 12 years.
England enter Saturday's clash as favourites, despite the physical prowess of the Springboks, and former back-rower James Haskell recently told talkSPORT head-coach Eddie Jones promised to make them world champions four years ago.
Haskell said: "He addressed the team and said, ‘Look, we’re fifth or sixth in the world. Do you genuinely think you guys are the fifth of sixth best team in the world?’
“We said, ‘No’.
“Then he said, ‘We’re going to work to be the best team in the world and we’re going to win a World Cup. We’re going to do it through hard work and sacrifice. I’m going to ask you to sacrifice things no coach has asked you to do before and we’re going to have to go to some uncomfortable places and we’re going to be very honest with each other’. And I believed him."