ENGLAND expects. After a week of nervous anticipation, a wave of national pride swept across Suffolk today as the county prepared to roar on our rugby heroes.

ENGLAND expects.

After a week of nervous anticipation, a wave of national pride swept across Suffolk today as the county prepared to roar on our rugby heroes.

Brian Ashton's team are ranked as outsiders to beat South Africa - but defying the odds has been the hallmark of England's extraordinary journey to the final.

Should Wilkinson, Robinson and co. defeat the Springboks in Paris' magnificent Stade de France, they will become the first side to retain the World Cup.

And they will be passionately backed in Suffolk, with tens of thousands expected to catch the action on television.

In Ipswich, pubs and bars were today preparing for a very busy night.

At the Cock and Pye, bar manager Adrian Caldwell was expecting an evening to remember.

“We showed the last World Cup final at 7.30am and we were full,” he said.

“I think we'll be full by 6pm. There'll be DJs before and after the game to build up the atmosphere.

“It should be a great night.”

The pub will be showing the game on two big screens and five plasma screens, one of which is outside allowing smokers to enjoy their habit without missing a second of the match.

Mr Caldwell said champagne will be on sale should England triumph.

Pals manager Rob Foster said every screen would be tuned into the game, while Vicky Beer, from the Old Rep, said the atmosphere would be ecstatic if the white army retained the Webb Ellis cup.

McGinty's will also be showing the game.

Manager Veronica Chambers said: “It will be madness here!

“We have a few South African regulars and they will be coming in to watch the game.”

Meanwhile staff at Goddards Estate Agents in Ipswich got into the final spirit by wearing England kit for the day.

Did you expect England to reach the final? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk