Twelve years after haunting defeat against South Africa, England's Nick Easter says Saturday's showdown offers the class of 2019 a shot at 'immortality'.

TOKYO, 30 Oct - While England fans might see a Rugby World Cup final against South Africa as a chance to avenge perceived injustices of 12 years ago, for some nothing will erase the pain of Paris in 2007.

The Springboks emerged 15-6 victors at Stade de France that October night to lift the Webb Ellis Cup and to deny the English a record second successive title.

The TMO's decision to rule out a possible England try for a foot in touch has been the subject of debate among followers of both teams ever since. But the misery cuts even deeper for the players who had to hand over their world champions' crown.

"It is still a huge disappointment and something that I will take to my grave," recalls Nick Easter, pictured below, who played number eight opposite Danie Rossouw. "It is the biggest game you ever play in and we didnt quite get the job done.

"In the cold light of day I will say that South Africa were the better team in the tournament, but that doesnt really help when the final was so tight and but for a few silly penalties and a disallowed try it could have been ours and they could have made a movie about it."

The fact that England managed to reach the 2007 final could be seen as stuff of legend in itself.

When Brian Ashton's unfancied team met the Springboks in the pool stages, they were beaten 36-0. They regrouped to score against-the-odds victories over Australia and France in the knockouts before the final offered the chance to atone for their earlier humiliation.

The match was a tense affair dominated by the boot until a scintillating break by England centre Mathew Tait ended with winger Mark Cueto apparently touching down at full stretch in the left corner, pictured top.

Referee Alain Rolland referred the decision to TMO Stuart Dickinson, who deliberated at length before ruling that Rossouw's tackle had forced Cueto's foot into touch before the ball was down.

At the final whistle Jonny Wilkinson's two penalties were outweighed by four from Percy Montgomery and a final long-range effort by Frans Steyn. South Africa celebrated their second title, 12 years after the first, and England fans were left to stew.

Another 12 years on, Easter believes it is England who hold the upper hand.

This England team has the ability to be the best ever because that forward pack is the best in the world and each section is the best in the game," he said."Ultimately, that is what wins you World Cups and Eddie Jones said when he took over as head coach he would need four or five world-class players and they have got more than that in this team."

He is not expecting any sudden surprises from the Springboks and predicts they will stick to the risk-averse tactics that edged out Wales in the semi-finals.

He is well qualified to give his verdict on the South Africans as, following his 54-test career, he went into coaching and has been with the Sharks in Durban for the past 18 months.

"England have a much better all-court team and their Saracens spine knows how to win these big games," he said.

"In contrast, not many South African teams get to Super Rugby finals and while the two packs on Saturday may even each other out, it will come down to the half-backs and who manages the game better."

Easter's belief that England will lift the cup on Saturday is shared by Phil Vickery, his captain in the 2007 final, whose emotions about that defeat are more complex.

"The great thing about that final against South Africa is that you dont want to be remembered as a brave loser," he said. "I was actually feeling proud to hand it over to John Smit the Springbok captain.

"That probably sounds weird, but he was a fellow front-rower, a great guy and my thoughts were that if the cup has to go to anyone I can live with passing it to that guy who deserved it."

Easter is having none of it, and urges the class of 2019 to brook no compromise either.

"Of course you are proud to have got that far at a World Cup and we were the defending champions, but we needed to win it. This England team has the chance of rugby immortality and they have a damn good chance of doing it."

RNS cj/js/sw

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'Misery of losing 2007 final will stay with me to the grave' - Rugby World Cup 2019