FRANCE: RUGBY - Coach Brian Ashton has recalled England captain Phil Vickery for the World Cup quarter-final clash with Australia

England coach Brian Ashton has gone for power in his bid to upset Australia in their World Cup quarter-final on Saturday (October 6) by recalling Andy Farrell at centre and captain Phil Vickery in a beefed-up front five. Ashton announced a team on Wednesday that showed five personnel changes from the XV who took the field against Tonga last week, with Jason Robinson, lock Simon Shaw and hooker Mark Regan also recalled. It is the presence of Farrell at inside centre for Olly Barkley, exposed defensively by the burly Tongans, that best indicates how England are likely to approach their task. "In terms of his kicking game, defensive work, general leadership and game management, that's what we're looking to bring to the game on Saturday," Ashton told a news conference. Farrell looked out of sorts playing in mix of flyhalf and centre against South Africa but came on as a replacement for Barkley early in the second half against Tonga and scored his first international try. Vickery, on the bench against Tonga after a two-game ban, starts at tighthead prop in place of Matt Stevens while Regan replaces George Chuter at hooker. With the mighty Shaw, one of England's most consistent performers in the pack, reclaiming his place in the second row it makes for an impressive front five. Robinson starts at fullback after missing the wins over Samoa and Tonga with a hamstring strain. Injured Mark Cueto drops out of the squad with Josh Lewsey moving to the wing. For the first time in the tournament there will be an unchanged England back row of Nick Easter, Martin Corry and, winning his 50th cap, Lewis Moody. Moody brought some real zest to England against the Tongans and his openside battle with George Smith will be one of the key elements of Saturday's clash. "It doesn't matter how many caps I've achieved it's purely focused on winning the game, and like you said the battle with George Smith, he's undoubtedly one of the best number sevens in the world, right up there with Richie McCaw so it's going to be a hard old day, but something I've got to focus on," said Moody.

ITN Source | October 4, 2007

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