Pleasing people isn't important - I don't care if we win 3-0 Wade Dooley

Dooley, who played 55 tests for England between 1985 and 1993, was part of the Will Carling-led side which lost to Australia in the 1991 final.

It was widely believed that England lost that match because they bowed to public pressure and played expansive rugby, having built their previous success on forward dominance.

The same criticism has been levelled at Clive Woodward's team as they face the same challenge on Saturday.

But Dooley insists that style is irrelevant.

"They're the best team in the world - it just needs to be rubber-stamped. I hope they won't do what we did," he said.

"We were at home and we wanted to please people and win with style.

Dooley expects several players to retire after the World Cup

"But pleasing people isn't important and I don't care if we win the final 3-0."

Dooley, who is a police officer in Blackpool, sees Mike Tindall's selection at centre, ahead of Mike Catt, as typical of Woodward's management methods.

"It's typical Woodward, but he knows his own mind. Catt came in and everyone was impressed with the way he played.

"I can only think that Tindall is there for the power game and Catt is held in reserve to take some of the responsibility off Jonny Wilkinson later on," Dooley added.

Dooley also believes the fact that several players may retire after the tournament could be decisive.

"People like Jason Leonard, Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio, Catt and Martin Johnson may be thinking that this is the last time they'll pull on the England shirt.

"They'll want to go out on a high and I'm sure they can do it."