THERE will be smiles and tears at Malvern College whatever the result of the Rugby World Cup final between England and Australia tomorrow (Saturday).

Wade Byrnes, from Melbourne, is one of five Australian students teaching sport at Malvern College during a gap year, so there will be at least some support for the green and gold shirts in the town.

Mr Byrnes will be watching the match with the others on TV in his flat.

He said: "There's a lot of friendly rivalry between ourselves and the students, we will get some stick no matter what the result, but we give as good as we get!"

When asked the inevitable question of who will win, he predicted: "We will be about even at half-time, but will pull ahead in the second half."

There will be plenty of opportunity to see the game in the company of other fans.

The Express Inn, in Malvern Link, is one of the establishments opening early to catch the 9am kick-off. Malvern Rugby Club will be open from 8am, with admission £2, offering breakfasts, a big screen and a bar. Ledbury Rugby Club is offering something similar from 7.30am.

Even scientists from QinetiQ have been gripped by rugby mania. By analysing footage of England hero Jonny Wilkinson taking kicks, they have come up with a complex formula for his technique: KP=CSP - (EnC(s+w+r+y.) + PsS(cr+sc+mt+x.) + PhS(c x t x w)

The equation is based on factors used in his kicking technique, including approach speed, angle and ball placement, as well as external influences like crowd reaction, stress and weather conditions.

Meanwhile staff at Malvern Sports, on Graham Road, have reported an increase in the sales of rugby balls ahead of the match.

A television will be rigged up in the shop for staff and customers alike to enjoy the action.