World Cup quarter-final: Catt gets the cream

Brian Ashton has handed Mike Catt a shock recall for Saturday's World quarter-final clash with Australia in Marseille.

The 36-year-old World Cup winner has been draughted in to replace the injured former Great Britain rugby league captain Andy Farrell ahead of Olly Barkley, who has been ruled out of the game by a leg injury, and Toby Flood.

Ashton has gone for the cautious approach in the Stade Velodrome as Catt specialises as a defensive centre.

As a result fellow centre Mathew Tait will be used in a more attacking role against the Wallabies.

Four years ago in Sydney Jonny Wilkinson's famous last-gasp injury-time drop-goal handed England the Webb Ellis trophy at the Aussies' expense.

However, most commentators believe that the world champions go into the rematch in France as the underdogs.

England: J Robinson (unattached); P Sackey (Wasps), M Tait (Newcastle), Mike Catt (London Irish), J Lewsey (Wasps); 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).

Substitutes: G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), L Dallaglio (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), P Richards (London Irish), O Barkley (Bath), D Hipkiss (Leicester)

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