Billy Vunipola warns South Africa: England ready to 'fight fire with fire' in Rugby World Cup final

Eddie Jones' side determined to follow up win over All Blacks by landing their second world title

England's Billy Vunipola during the press conference at Keio Plaza Hotel, Tokyo. PA Photo. Picture date: Tuesday October 29, 2019. See PA story RUGBYU England. Photo credit should read: Adam Davy/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. Strictly no commercial use or association. Still image use only. Use implies acceptance of RWC 2019 T&Cs (in particular Section 5 of RWC 2019 T&Cs) at URL: bit.ly/2knOId6
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Billy Vunipola has warned South Africa that England are ready to "fight fire with fire" when the two teams collide in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final on Saturday.

Vunipola, 26, also called for a rampant England to go again in Yokohama after stunning defending champions New Zealand 19-7 to move one win from a second world title.

"We've got to back up what we did last week - it can't be a fluke," Vunipola said on Tuesday, predicting a titanic clash up front against South Africa's hulking pack.

"They challenge has been laid out by South Africa. You saw them take Japan apart, then Wales," the No 8 added in the run-up to a repeat of the 2007 final, which South Africa won 15-6 with current England coach Eddie Jones working as a technical advisor to the Springboks.

"Obviously they're big, big people, but then we've got a few big blokes on our team. They've already come out and said they're going to fight fire with fire.

"I guess we return serve by saying: 'Bring it on.' It's a final - you have to front up."

England's run to their fourth World Cup final has firmly banished the demons of their 2015 flop and the humiliation of becoming the first host nation to exit at the pool stage, under Stuart Lancaster.

They are a different animal under Jones, who was Australia coach when England beat the Wallabies in the 2003 final thanks to Jonny Wilkinson's famous extra-time drop goal.

"We want to peak at the end of the tournament," said Vunipola, one of those who remembers the 2015 World Cup only too well.

"The All Blacks have been the best in the world forever - obviously we want to be the best in the world."

England defence coach John Mitchell has spoken of the need for England to be "brutal" in the tackle, as they were against New Zealand, whose players were on the end of some monster hits from the likes of Maro Itoje and "kamikaze kids" Sam Under Underhill and Tom Curry.

"We've been challenged to bring the same intensity this weekend," said Vunipola, noting how those huge tackles on the All Blacks had sent the adrenalin surging through the players' veins.

"It's something you probably can't measure, but the best way to explain it is it's quite contagious.

"It shows everyone that it can be done - so everyone else just tries to follow in the slipstream of Unders, Curry and Maro," said Vunipola, who has opposite number Duane Vermeulen in his cross-hairs after underlining the importance of winning personal battles.

"It's easy to sit here and say we want to be brutal, but you have to back those words up and those guys are probably the best at leading that area."