The dad of an England rugby international has spoken of his pride after seeing his son in the jersey ahead of this Saturday's Rugby World Cup final.

Piers Francis, who grew up in Gravesend and went to St George's Church of England School, is part of the matchday squad set to play South Africa.

The fly-half had to wait until England's second pool game against USA before making his sole appearance in the tournament so far.

His father, David Francis, says his son is ready to step up to the task of taming the Springboks should he be called upon.

"He is tremendously excited. It is what he was born to do," he said.

"The level of preparation [coach] Eddie Jones has taken is just sublime."

The 62-year-old and his wife, Heather, were in Japan earlier in the competition but missed their son's match against the USA and were due to go to the France game but it was called off due to Typhoon Hagibis.

He praised the Japanese hospitality and said the whole experience was "slightly surreal" and akin to being in a "fish bowl".

"We have been around him before in a professional environment but this is a bit different.

"We didn't get to see him much out there but he has appreciated seeing us when he can."

A former rugby player himself, appearing for Medway Rugby Club, he praised his son's exceptional levels of dedication.

He said: "From a young age we recognised he was skilful. Give him any sort of ball, sphere or oval and he will understand it. Even playing tennis he knew just how a ball would bounce and how to approach it."

On his son's lack of game time so far he said: "He just has to keep doing what he has been doing.

"No one thought at the beginning of June he would be there. But a lot of people now realise what Piers can offer.

"The coaches say he is the ideal player. He listens to what is said and understand the logic of the phases."

David and his wife will be joined in the land of the rising sun by Piers's sister, Lucy, and pregnant fiance, Amanda.

He said: "Even if we go out and he doesn't play it has been a great experience for him."

His path to the regular Roses' fold has been a long one with ups and downs along the way.

"From a young age we recognised he was skilful..." David Francis

Released from Saracens academy aged 17 - having reportedly been deemed too small - the Gravesend man then took a punt, travelling to New Zealand - England's semi-final opponents.

It was there he honed his craft before returning to play in the UK with another spell in the southern hemisphere.

Bob Hayton, ground chairman for Maidstone Rugby Club, where Piers played at youth level before stepping up to the senior side, praised his "unusual journey to the top".

He said: "He was playing fly-half for the first team at the age of 17. Took a gap year, went to New Zealand and it's all gone on from there.

"It's not your traditional route for an England international. There's a lot of hard work, perseverance and dedication on his part, but no lack of talent."

Bob Hayton on Team Talk on KMTV

Piers currently plies his trade in the Premiership for the Northampton Saints, alongside fellow England internationals Lewis Ludlam and Courtney Lawes.

In 2017, he earned his first England call up for the tour of Argentina, scoring a try against the Pumas in the second Test match in a 35–25 win.

Now with nine caps under his belt, the 29-year-old who also plays at inside centre, will be hoping to help guide his nation to only their second ever World Cup crown.

Members of his boyhood rugby club, Old Gravesendians, will be watching on from the clubhouse with eager eyes on Saturday.

Mike Hodge, chairman of the team, said just having Piers's name on the team sheet has been "huge for the club".

"As a club we are not used to producing England internationals. Our last was David Cooke who played for England in the seventies, so it's been great," he said.

"Since world cup fever started we have seen a huge increase in the number of young people joining."

Before the tournament every player had a 40 minute feature and TV crews came and featured the club showing pictures of Piers in the club's strip when he was six or seven.

"Many have seen him on TV and been inspired," Mr Hodge added.

Gavin Bright, head of PE at St George's school, keeps in regular contact with Piers who he taught for two years and said from a young age it was clear "he was destined for great things".

"What struck me the most with Piers is that when all the other boys were doing what boys do in their break and lunchtimes in a school outnumbered with footballers, Piers would come to the PE department and ask me if could borrow a bag of rugby balls to practice his kicking over the rugby posts. This would be a daily occurrence."

The teacher would often ponder "if he was the next Jonny Wilkinson" but has been even more impressed by his ability to adapt his game to the back line.

"He was a year 10 student at the time and he was full of enthusiasm and determination that I had rarely seen before in such a fun manner at a young age," he said.

'"I would often just watch him and wonder if he could be the next Jonny Wilkinson?"

"In every lesson, training session and fixture he was there to improve himself and the team. Regardless of results he wanted to find a way to improve so he and the team could get better."

The director of youth rugby at Old Gravesendians says it was this "inner devotion and desire" which has not only made him the player he is today but an "excellent role model for all young sportsmen and women”.

John Burnage, head of sixth form at Kent College Canterbury where Piers studied for his A Levels, also praised the former pupil.

He said: "Piers was a hard-working and polite pupil who enjoyed his time at Kent College and we are so proud to have him as alumni.

"The school have been watching his progress in the World Cup in Japan and cheering him on from home."

The 2019 Rugby World Cup final between England and South Africa will be shown live on ITV at 9am on Saturday.

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend