England's cringing 36-0 defeat to the Springboks makes fans nervous

Continuing transport strikes in Paris failed to deter fans as they arrived for Saturday's game.

About half of Paris's Metro services and a third of local mainline trains were closed but Eurostar trains from London were operating.

Many fans have already arrived, but thousands more, some without tickets, are due throughout Friday and Saturday.

A spokeswoman for Eurostar said despite the strike on the French side, 25,000 fans were being ferried to Paris for the final, all of them "in fine form".

"South African supporters were mixing happily with English fans. There was a good atmosphere. It seemed everyone was wearing team colours."

Sold out

Some fans unable to get on a Paris-bound train were taking Eurostar Brussels services and changing at Lille to make their way on local services to the French capital.

At Folkestone in Kent, Eurotunnel officials were coping with numbers of travellers on their cross-Channel shuttle trains that were 40% greater than the same weekend last year.

A company spokesman said: "From 11am today until the start of the match there are no tickets left and it will also be very busy on the return journey on Sunday."

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To avoid public transport problems, Gavin MacDonald, global head of mergers and acquisitions for investment bank Morgan Stanley, hired a luxury 10-seat plane for himself and corporate clients.

In Paris, Jason Patrick, 24, a Springbok fan living in London, said he arrived in the French capital too late to secure a hotel room but did manage to find a spare bed at a friend's place in anticipation of a South Africa victory party.

The Queen has sent a written message of good luck to the England team, which her daughter Anne will deliver, while both Prince William and Prince Harry will attend the match.

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