The 29-year-old former rugby league superstar said that it was simply not true England played boring rugby but that because of the heavy rain that prevailed throughout their 24-7 victory over France in the semi-final they had played 'smart rugby'.

"Who wants to play in the rain?" asked Robinson, who was first capped in union in February 2001 and now has 27 to his name.

"I certainly don't, I'm not a duck.

"I don't like chasing balls round the pitch, I like to have the ball in my hands.

"The simple matter is that against France we played smart rugby," added Robinson, who has scored three tries in the tournament so far taking his tally to 15 for England.

Robinson also refused to accept that league offered more opportunities for running with the ball, a reason given for several players in Australia returning to league from union.

"I don't think that is true that you get the ball more often in league.

"I have had matches in league when I have not received the ball," said the devout Christian, who listens to biblical teaching tapes when he is driving.

Robinson said he had never had any regrets about his switch from league and he hadn't even watched the two tests between Australia and Great Britain live.

"I certainly wasn't going to get up at four in the morning to watch it," said Robinson, who was capped seven times by England and 12 times by Great Britain at rugby league.

"I have never had any regrets about switching codes and here I am on the brink of playing in the World Cup final."

Robinson said it was exciting that Australia's back three were also former rugby league stars including one of his idols Wendell Sailor and added that they brought different things to union from their code.

"Their running back of the ball and the ability to launch a counter attack makes them very difficult to control or to predict," said Robinson, whose surging run set up England's only try in the 28-17 quarter-final defeat of Wales.

"With the ball in their hands they are very dangerous and we have to make sure we tie them down."

However Robinson said that he was not just going to focus on his opposite number Lote Tuqiri, who was probably the most impressive of the former league boys in both the quarter-final victory over Scotland and the semi with the All Blacks.

"You do that and you are likely to slip up. Of course I will close him down but I won't allow his presence take my mind off the larger picture of the match."

Robinson denied the members of the England team that featured in the 2-1 Lions series defeat by Australia in 2001 were motivated solely with avenging the loss.

"The Lions episode does not motivate me in the slightest," said Robinson, who scored two tries in that series.

"We have put a lot of work into the World Cup and we haven't come here to be second."