However, another famous flyhalf was ready to step into his boots.

Rob Andrew, the former England number 10 whose last-minute drop goal knocked Australia out of the 1995 World Cup, knows better than anyone else what it is like to be in Wilkinson's position.

Andrew was the last darling of English rugby. He played against Australia in the 1991 World Cup final and it was his boot that ended the Wallabies last attempt to win back-to-back titles.

Andrew is also the chief executive at Wilkinson's club side Newcastle and has been helping the 24-year-old cope with the enormous pressure on him to deliver England their first World Cup.

Questions have been raised about Wilkinson's mental state in the lead-up to Saturday's final with Australia but Andrew said he was handling all the attention just fine.

"I think he's going really well and all this rubbish about his not coping with the pressure is wrong," Andrew said.

"He's kicked all his big goals, he's carried England through two very tough pool games and a tough quarter-final and now a tough semi-final.

"A lot of the analysis that has gone on has been wrong to be honest and has been written by people who obviously don't know much about him."

SHOOT-OUT

Andrew said he expected Saturday's final would ultimately come down to a shoot-out between Wilkinson and Australian goalkicker Elton Flatley.

"I think it will be a very tense tight affair, I don't think there will be very much in it and I do believe in the end, it's probably going to come down to goal kickers," Andrew said.

"It would mean a lot to the country. I think this England team, of all the national teams, has probably carried the flag for a number of years now and it would be a huge achievement if they could win it."

England coach Clive Woodward also gave Wilkinson a vote of confidence by recalling Mike Tindall to inside centre for the final.

Mike Catt was called in for last weekend's semi-final with France to take some of the load off Wilkinson but was relegated to the bench for the final.

"Wilkinson was not the problem in our early games. It was the other players," Woodward said. "I have no doubt Wilkinson will handle Saturday's match fantastically well."