Ashton sticks with winning formula

Much like their remarkable World Cup escapade, England may have reached their chosen XV by chance and circumstances as well as everything else, but having stumbled upon the winning formula to a degree, unsurprisingly Brian Ashton stuck with it yesterday when unveiling his hand for Saturday's World Cup final in Paris.

The only change from the side with which England upset the odds and most forecasts in beating Australia and France in the knock-out stages was an enforced one with Mark Cueto recalled in place of the hamstrung Josh Lewsey.

"Mark has played a lot of international rugby in the back three and we can expect a fair old aerial bombardment. Experience in that position is quite important," explained Ashton in preferring the Sale winger cum fullback to Leicester's Dan Hipkiss.

Cueto has experienced something of a rollercoaster World Cup himself, having started at full-back in the unexceptional 28-10 opening win over the USA, then being omitted for the 36-0 defeat by the Springboks, being recalled on the left wing for the wins over Samoa and Tonga, was sidelined by injury for the quarter-final and left out of the semi-finals.

"I would have played in the frontrow if they had asked me," he said yesterday. "I still feel I've got a point to prove to myself, to my friends and family, so to get an opportunity to do that in a final is a special chance."

Despite losing Lewsey, there are a dozen survivors from England's World Cup winning squad in this squad, including four of the starting line-up in the final in Sydney four years ago against Australia, fullback Jason Robinson, outhalf Jonny Wilkinson, tighthead and captain Phil Vickery and lock Ben Kay. Mike Catt, 36 last month, will become the oldest player to feature in a World Cup final having also come on as a replacement in each of the knock-out games four years ago in a similar role as "minder" to Wilkinson.

The triumph four years ago was the product of Clive Woodward's six-year reign and a four-year plan that was meticulous in the detail of its preparation. This run to the final has been the product of four years utter disharmony with the clubs, the departure of two head coaches, abysmal results and Ashton's emergency six-month reign.

Having set the template in Australia in 2003, England themselves seem intent on shredding it completely four years later. Ashton has arguably been helped by injuries to a number of initial picks, such as Mark Cueto (who was deemed a better fullback than their trump card Jason Robinson), and Andy Farrell ahead of Catt.

The debate has raged in some of the English media as to how much of an influence Ashton has had on the stunning turnaround since that pool defeat to South Africa in Stade de France on September 14th with some maintaining that the team have shifted from a Leicester-orientated style to one more akin to Wasps.

"It's not true," responded Ashton quite vehemently yesterday. "It's been floating around for the past five weeks. I'm going to kill it off once and for all. On the Saturday morning after the South African match we had a squad meeting involving the management and the players, and all the players were encouraged to give their views. It was a very open and honest meeting.

"After that I had a meeting with the nines, 10s and 12s to discuss strategy. I think you'll find they're from London Irish, Harlequins, Bristol, Newcastle, Saracens and Bath. Hopefully that's finally killed that off." It certainly should do.

Only given the job in December, and in charge of a team that was derided as the worst World Cup holders in the history of the competition, the 61-year-old one-time Ireland coach stands on the threshold of his biggest achievement in an illustrious career.

A feature of this tournament is how favourites have been unable to cope with that pressure in tight endgames, prompting Ashton to remark whimsically "Are they (the Springboks) the favourites, do you think?" before admitting: "They have got massive experience, they have been together for a number of years, they have a very good coaching staff and very good players. With the mentality of South Africa, they won't freeze, they will be hanging on for the 80th minute just as we will be. It will be fantastic to watch."

With France out of the tournament, the temperatures in Paris have cooled and the mood, it seems, has darkened too, with today's transport strike set to threaten the planned invasion of English supporters.

"They've been a fantastic bunch throughout this tournament and knowing the 50,000 they will get here. I don't know how they'll do it, maybe a Channel swim, but they'll get here."

England (v South Africa, Saturday, 8.0)

Jason Robinson (Unatt); Paul Sackey (Wasps), Matthew Tait (Newcastle), Mike Catt (London Irish),  Mark Cueto (Sale); Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle), Andy Gomarsall (Harlequins); Andy Sheridan (Sale), Mark Regan (Bristol), Phil Vickery (Wasps, capt); Simon Shaw (Wasps), Ben Kay (Leicester); Martin Corry (Leicester), Lewis Moody (Leicester), Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Replacements:M Stevens (Bath), G Chuter (Leicester), S Borthwick (Bath), L Dallaglio (Wasps), P Richards (London Irish), T Flood (Newcastle), D Hipkiss (Leicester).

 England's bunch of merry men, misfits, crocks, has beens and, oh yes, World Cup finalists.

JASON ROBINSON:A hero from 2003, he retired from Test rugby in 2005 but was persuaded to return in this year's Six Nations by Brian Ashton (only missing the Croke Park game through injury) and to bow out from the game at this World Cup despite retiring from club rugby in May. Even at 33, Billy provides the Whizz in England's game.

PAUL SACKEY:Two caps in the Twickenham defeats to New Zealand and Argentina in the autumn of 2006, Sackey remained out in the cold until the warm-up games. The Premiership's joint top try scorer with Wasps last season has been on Churchill Cup duty with the English Saxons for three summers, and possibly wouldn't be here but for Dave Strettle's injury. Sackey's four tries against Samoa and Tonga did as much as anything to rejuvenate the Red Rose.

MATTHEW TAIT:Famously dumped on his debut in Cardiff in 2005 by Gavin Henson and then by coach Andy Robinson, Tait returned 16 months later on the tour to Australia and South Africa. A first-half replacement in Croke Park, he owes his place in part to Jamie Noon's injury-enforced departure.

MIKE CATT:The 36-year-old only played four Tests since the 2003 triumph until this year. But, rejuvenated by his move to London Irish, Ashton turned to his former Bath charge as captain against France and Wales this year due to Phil Vickery's concussion. Despite tearing a hamstring in Cardiff, he returned for pre-World Cup training, was dropped after playing outhalf in the pool debacle against the Springboks and only returned against France because of injuries to Andy Farrell and Olly Barkley.

MARK CUETO:Two prolific seasons on the wing were followed by a year on the outside before he was recalled at fullback in the last game of the Six Nations against Wales and in the warm-up defeat in Marseilles. Recalled now because of pulled hamstring to the cruelly unlucky Josh Lewsey.

JONNY WILKINSON:The most celebrated catalogue of injuries to the most celebrated hero of 2003 sidelined him until this year, making a talismanic return against Scotland. Ironically he is one of only three survivors from Croke Park. Injury jinx struck again before returning for last four wins to become all-time leading World Cup points scorer despite 62 per cent place-kicking return.

ANDY GOMARSALL:Sacked by Worcester at end of 2005-06 season, the 33-year-old was on the rugby scrapheap just over 12 months ago until Dean Richards called him out of the blue and gave him a nine-month contract. Wouldn't have made World Cup squad but for injury to Harry Ellis and arrived here as third choice, but has started last four wins.

ANDREW SHERIDAN:Sidelined by a broken left ankle and ligament damage in November '06 defeat to the Springboks, followed by a medial ligament injury a month into his comeback, Sheridan only returned to the team in the final Six Nations game against Wales.

MARK REGAN:A World Cup winner from four years ago, the 35-year-old retired in 2004 but initiated comeback when Ashton took over from Andy Robinson last December, though only recalled in summer tour to South Africa in light of Steve Thompson's enforced retirement and the unavailability of Leicester's George Chuter.

PHIL VICKERY:Another World Cup winner who has been sidelined on and off (including the 2005 Lions) by three neck injuries, returning from a year's absence off the bench with match-winning try against South Africa 11 months ago. Made captain by Ashton in January, the 31-year-old led the team in Croke Park but two bouts of concussion, Wasps commitments and suspension from Springboks' and Samoan games have interrupted his captaincy.

SIMON SHAW:Missed 1995 through injury and 1999 and 2003 through Clive Woodward's selectorial whims. The 34-year-old has had a scattered career since his debut in 1996 and was considered past his best until form for Wasps earned him a recall in final Six Nations outing against Wales. Shaw has started all bar one of last nine Tests.

BEN KAY:A star performer in World Cup win four years ago, the 31-year-old suffered with form and injuries, even being dropped by Leicester, before returning to the team in warm-up defeat to France at Twickenham but has re-emerged as pivotal lineout figure of four years ago playing every minute of England's six Cup games to date.

MARTIN CORRY:The 34-year-old has soldiered better than any of the World Cup winners of four years ago, despite being shunted around the back five and repeated calls for his head and his captaincy during the Andy Robinson reign. Lost the honour to Vickery when Ashton was appointed coach but the third of the survivors from Croke Park keeps soldiering on.

LEWIS MOODY:Another of the 2003 heroes - appearing in all seven matches - and a relative mainstay, missed the 2004 Six Nations with a stress fracture of his right foot and the 2006 Six Nations due to shoulder surgery as well as the Marseilles warm-up defeat with a calf tear. On the bench for first three games here, he has replaced Joe Worsley as the openside since.

NICK EASTER:Helping Harlequins' promotion push from Division Two the season before last, the 29-year-old only made his Test debut against Italy this year, scoring four tries in warm-up win over Wales before displacing Lawrence Dallaglio for the 36-0 defeat to South Africa and retaining his place ever since.