Ashton turns to Farrell at fly-half

Updated 21.11 Wed Sep 12 2007

Keywords: Rob Andrew, Martin Corry, Phil Vickery, Jonny Wilkinson, Olly Barkley, Andy Farrell, Brian Ashton, England, World Cup, rugby, sport

Brian Ashton has picked Andy Farrell to play at fly-half for England's crunch World Cup Pool A clash with South Africa in Paris.

Farrell will be standing in for Jonny Wilkinson's original replacement Olly Barkley - it will be the first time that the former former rugby league star will have taken on the number ten duties having been deployed at both centre and flanker to date.

Barkley has been ruled out of Friday's pivotal meeting with the Springboks after straining a hip muscle in training

Barkley has been ruled out of Friday's pivotal meeting with the Springboks after straining a hip muscle in training.

It will come as big blow to Ashton as Barkley contributed 18 points as the world champions began their defence of the Webb Ellis trophy with a 28-10 win over the USA last Saturday.

With captain Phil Vickery ruled out of the match by suspension, Ashton has decided that Martin Corry will once again lead the side.

England Director of Elite Rugby Rob Andrew revealed that no appeal would be made after Vickery was banned for two matches for a trip on US centre Paul Emrick in Lens last weekend.

Andrew said: "We're disappointed that it was not just a one-week ban but it was a long and fair hearing and we've decided to leave it at that."