Cueto replaces Lewsey for rugby final

Sale winger Mark Cueto has been drafted in to England's Rugby World Cup line-up as a direct replacement for the injured Josh Lewsey.

Coach Brian Ashton had a number of options open to him but in the end went for the experienced Cueto.

The final will be Cueto's fourth start of the tournament, but his first since the pool victory over Tonga almost three weeks ago. He began the World Cup as England's full-back against the US.

Centre Mike Catt, 36 last month, will become the oldest player to feature in a World Cup final. Four years ago in Sydney, he was left out of the final and replaced by Mike Tindall.

Catt's midfield partner Mathew Tait, meanwhile, is the youngest England player to line up in a final, aged 21.

Ashton could have moved Tait from centre to wing, where he finished the France game, and handed Leicester centre Dan Hipkiss a start - but specialist wing Cueto has won the vote.

Ashton said: "As with every week, we discuss every position - and it was a pretty close call.

"It was the fact Mark has played a lot of international rugby in the back three, and we expect a fair old aerial bombardment on Saturday.

"We have played better since the first South Africa game - the squad is a lot closer. Every game has been a knockout game for us since then, and we've won every one.

"We had a team meeting on the Saturday morning after that game, and every single player was involved. It was a very open and honest meeting."

Ashton is hoping his men have one more surprise in store for their detractors.

"The players have put in so much hard work," he said. "I think we have been written off since about June. This squad of players has consistently proved people wrong around the world.

"It is not only strength of character. There is a lot of ability that people haven't talked about. I really don't think that has been fully recognised.

"There are individual stars all over the team, but they have sacrificed themselves for the collective.

"Getting to the final, for this group of players, is not enough."

Captain Phil Vickery said: "We are under no illusions, but we have faced this type of situation every week since the Samoa game.

"As one of the more experienced players, I know what it took last time (to win the World Cup). If it wasn't for Jonny, we still wouldn't have done it. Ultimately, we have to work extremely hard.

"We haven't come this far to go out on Saturday and think about past experiences. This team is here to make its own history, and we won't leave anything in the changing room."

He later said of the Springboks: "The scary thing is their experience, combined with their speed and power. They seem a very complete side. It is very difficult to find any weaknesses there.

"To know what true Test rugby is about you have got to play against South Africa. It is the most physical game you will ever face.

"We would like to be able to erase the memory of a 36-0 defeat, but unfortunately they don't go away.

"There were a lot of disappointed people in the England changing room that night. South Africa took their opportunities, but a huge amount has changed for us since then.

"It still hurts, but it's a World Cup final on Saturday - England versus South Africa - and whatever has happened doesn't really count for anything."

England team for the World Cup final against South Africa at Stade de France on Saturday: J Robinson (unattached); P Sackey (Wasps), M Tait (Newcastle), M Catt (London Irish), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), A Gomarsall (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Regan (Bristol), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), S Shaw (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins).

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

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