ALMOST everyone in the county will be cheering on England tonight as they bid to retain the Rugby World Cup.

But while the vast majority of support will be firmly for coach Brian Ashton's team, East Lancashire's South Africans will be rooting for the opposition.

Derek Denson, owner of Poachers Pot Deli, Church Street, Padiham, is looking forward to the big game and the potential bragging rights.

His wife Inge is a keen Springboks supporter, having grown up on the Eastern Cape.

Derek said: "As you can imagine there has been a lot of healthy banter with the customers in the shop.

"My blood is as red as a rose but Inge's is green and gold I'm afraid.

Derek and Inge have decided to watch the match on 'neutral territory' at his local pub in Padiham.

He added: "Half of the house will be green and gold, with my wife hoping South Africa can snatch victory.

"She said she will be trying to grasp the trophy out of my hands!

"It is going to be a close game, we'll just have to see how it goes!"

Blackburn Rugby Club's South African forward Raymond Pieke said he fancied his countries chances against the English.

He said: "We have a point to prove after we annihilated them 36-0 the last time we played them.

"England are a very unpredictable side and it's going to be a very interesting game, but I think we're going to beat them.

"We have a game ourselves, so I will be watching the final with the lads in the clubhouse afterwards, so there should be a good atmosphere."

Team-mate and countryman Ferdie Naude says he is also excited about the big game and will be watching the action on the big screen.

He said: "I'm looking forward to the match and it should be a good tie.

"It's always hard to predict if England are going to play well or not.

"They have been playing well the last couple of games though so it looks like its going to be tricky."

Ferdie was also quick to admit the looming final has stirred up quite a bit of friendly banter with his team-mates.

"There has been a lot of joking around," he said.