Argentine wing Diego Albanese backs England to beat Australia on Saturday night and take the Webb Ellis Cup to the northern hemisphere for the first time.
The 55 Test veteran knows the English game from the inside, playing as he does for Leeds and he knows the Australians because he played against them in the RWC opener in Sydney.
When asked for a final prediction, Albanese remains cautious, claiming there are no favourites in such big games.
“If it was played on a neutral ground, I’d put my money on England, but Australia at home,” he said. “If I had to say something, I’d give a short margin to England.”
Albanese was one of the Pumas best at RWC 2003
Now back in training with Leeds in England, the 30 year old believes the English have what it takes to beat Australia in RWC final.
Having played in three RWCs he is aware of the intensity of finals.
“What we saw in the semi finals is that they tend to be closer games with the levels very even, defence decides the winners,” Albanese said. “Australia beat New Zealand with defence that had not been seen so far in this RWC.
“England were very solid against France and played better given the conditions.”
After playing in a team which came so close to qualifying for the quarter finals, Albanese found their ultimate elimination, 16-15 at the hands of Ireland, difficult to handle.
“The first two weeks after (their elimination) were very hard,” he said. “I couldn’t even watch the Rugby World Cup, but is getting better now, I have watched the last couple of games.
“The only way to face these things is to look forward and that is what I am doing. I now see the RWC as a spectator.”
Australia
When looking to the final the Puma wing believes Australia have an important factor to their advantage.
“The fact that nobody believed in them and the fact that they could play under pressure and they are masters of that,” he said. “In 2001 after losing the first match to the Lions, they lifted in the same way in 1999 and are repeating it again now.
“They have they experience to play in such games with huge pressure. People don’t realise, but experience under pressure very different.
“You cannot afford to take a step back as was the case when they played New Zealand. Having said that it will difficult to reproduce such a game again.”
England
Like all footballers, he has a healthy respect for England idol Jonny Wilkinson.
“After (David) Beckham, he is the most impressive sportsman in England, on Monday the papers were screaming ‘Wilkinson, Wilkinson, Wilkinson’,” Albanese said. “He deserves such praise because he doesn’t stop training and is super professional and very humble.
“I played against him once and one thing that strikes you is that he just plays rugby. Others use their profile to try and take advantage of the referee, he is the example of humility and chivalry.”
He also maintains that England is far more than just Jonny Wilkinson.
“He converts the penalties, but these don’t come on their own,” he said. “Someone has to build them and England is very complete and building pressure.”
There is such a great atmosphere around the nation at moment that the Puma wing can be a part of a celebration that first had him as a star and now an observing guest.