Graphic: Destiny in their hands

It says something about the extraordinary turnaround of this England team that a man who was out of work and out of love with the game only 13 months ago is discussing his ambition to be the No 1 in the world. We are talking about Andy Gomarsall, who wants to take his astonishing rise one step farther and knock Fourie du Preez, who most would agree is the most accomplished scrum half in the sport, off his lofty perch.

In times gone by, such bold claims might have been delivered with an element of arrogance accompanied by a sprinkling of self-delusion. Today, Gomarsall genuinely has the summit of the game in sight and he talks about reaching it with an excitement that is infectious.

An independent(ish) view of the scrum half pecking order from Peter Richards, Gomarsall’s understudy, is such: “In this World Cup, Du Preez has been the most influential scrum half. I’d put ‘Gomars’ a close second, but only because he didn’t play in the first couple of games.”

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BACKGROUND

• Cueto ready to prove his point in Dad’s Army

• Hipkiss bid to force Ashton’s hand falls short

• Clive Woodward: Why England are my favourites

• Resurgent Gomarsall sets his sights on summit

BACKGROUND

• France exceed all expectations as hosts

• Steyn presents threat in close final

• Broccoli for breakfast is recipe for success

• The rough (sleeper’s) guide to Paris

BACKGROUND

• Robinson calls for 'one last push'

• Springboks unchanged for final

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• Graphic: where the final could be won

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• Josh Lewsey's video diary

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A few weeks ago, such a claim would have been met with derision. Now it is a genuine debating point to which Gomarsall is happy to contribute. “You hear them talking about ‘isn’t Du Preez the best scrum half in the world?’ And the envy starts,” he said. “It’s right, I want to be that person.”

Does he see Du Preez as the king of the No 9 position? “I can’t speak more highly of him,” Gomarsall said. “But we’ll see on Saturday night. I put that challenge to myself and I’ve got to answer it on Saturday. I can’t wait to get out there. Mentally, I’ve been waiting for this for the whole of my life.”

The battle at scrum half will be one area where the World Cup final will be decided. The memories of how Du Preez tore them apart in the 36-0 defeat in the pool stage is fresh on England minds. Nobody has any doubt about the threat that his pace and his perception pose.

But Gomarsall, 33, has been pitting himself against other established stars at scrum half in the past two weeks and first George Gregan, of Australia, and then Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, of France, had their wings clipped by the old practitioner opposite them. “We had Gregan, the world’s most-capped player, and Elissalde, a fantastic tactician, and we put enough pressure on them to stop them playing their A game,” Gomarsall said. “We intend to pressurise in that department on Saturday and that’s a big role for myself; one that I’m absolutely relishing.

“Every weekend has been a step up for me and it’ll be the same again. It’s going to be a huge challenge, but I can’t wait. I want the game now. It’s the biggest game of my career and I can’t wait to get out on the pitch.” So is confidence brimming from the formerly unemployed England scrum half? “Yes,” he said. “I’m still trying to suck it in and believe it myself.”