Farrell at outhalf as England stretched

England v South Africa:England coach Brian Ashton will try to be phlegmatic because he has recourse to no other disposition ahead of tomorrow night's crucial clash with South Africa at the Stade de France. Jonny Wilkinson's ankle ligament, Phil Vickery's poor imitation of the Chelsea legend Ron "Chopper" Harris and Olly Barkley's hip have conspired to further reduce dwindling hopes.

England's form going into the tournament was less than chipper, but they now find themselves forced into gambling on a rugby league convert, Andy Farrell, in the pivotal outhalf role.

Farrell has played in the centre and at flanker since switching codes - he did play one game in the number 10 jersey for Saracens' A team 11 months ago - but says he is undaunted by a new responsibility that will also include the place-kicking duties.

The 32-year-old said, "I am happy to do it. The last few weeks the 10s and 12s have all been swapping in and out anyway, and we share the workload and responsibility. The way Brian likes to play, he likes his 10 and 12 to control the game between them. There is not that much difference, just a bit more responsibility at 10.

"When Olly (Barkley) went off during training on Tuesday, me and Catty (Mike Catt) just sorted it out between ourselves."

Catt, who turned 36 on Monday, will stay at inside centre. He has kicked for England during a 13-year test career, notching 98 points with the boot, but Farrell boasts a great record from rugby league; he kicked 1,042 goals for Wigan and also shouldering the responsibility for the national rugby league team.

Farrell maintained, "I've been practising for a couple of weeks and been striking the ball well.

"It's a matter of getting into a groove and getting some consistency. Every day it is getting better and my range is from all over, anywhere up to halfway.

"It's a matter of being relaxed and concentrated on what you have been practising. You can only try your best. It's best not to think about it too much. I've had the responsibility before. If you miss, you are a villain. If you kick them, you are a hero. You just have to take the rough with the smooth."

Vickery's place in the front row will be taken by Bath's Matt Stevens. Martin Corry will captain the side. Perry Freshwater has been added to the bench, and Peter Richards and Matthew Tait fill the vacancies among the replacements.

England have named two scrumhalves in the reserves but London Irish's Richards can play on the wing, as he has done occasionally.

The Springboks have concerns of their own. Having lost centre Jean de Villiers for the remainder of the tournament with a torn bicep, they have called upon François Stein to partner Jacques Fourie in midfield.

Coach Jake White has decided to appeal the four-game ban handed to flanker Schalk Burger, deemed guilty of a swinging forearm that caught the Samoan scrumhalf Junior Polu at Parc des Princes on Sunday. The hearing takes place in Paris at 8am.

If suspension is upheld, Burger would only be available for selection again if the Springboks made the semi-finals.

White explained, "We are not happy about the decision. Of course I was shocked. You lose a player like Schalk Burger; you get told at one o'clock in the morning after the hearing; it is not something that you take without being shocked about it.

"We will concentrate on the rugby aspects and the legal team will concentrate on the legal aspects and hopefully we can get some more clarity before the kick-off on Friday."

White is not optimistic his South African legal delegation can resolve the issue ahead of tomorrow night's game but added that whatever the outcome it won't undermine his team's preparations.

"I want to make it quite clear that we are a squad of 30 players," he said. "There are certain players that played in the extended Tri-Nations away leg and I am very confident that those players can stand in.

"The one thing I am totally confident of is that this group of players has been through enough adversity within the last four years to be able to rise to another challenge."

ENGLAND: Robinson; Sackey, Noon, Catt, Lewsey; Farrell, Perry; Sheridan, Regan, Stevens; Shaw, Kay; Corry (capt), Rees, Easter. Replacements: Chuter, Freshwater, Borthwick, Moody, Gomarsall, Richards, Tait.