FRANCE: RUGBY - England prepare ahead of Saturday's rugby World Cup final

England coach Brian Ashton and his team trained at the Courbevoie stadium near Paris on Wednesday evening (October 17), few days before they play South Africa at the Stade de France. England's forgotten man Mark Cueto has a point to prove and Brian Ashton has handed him the greatest stage of all to do it. The 27-year-old was thrown straight into the starting lineup for Saturday's World Cup final as a straight replacement for injured winger Josh Lewsey after failing to make the match 22 against either Australia or France. His experience and strength helped persuade Ashton to bring back a player who began the tournament as a fullback, has been dropped, recalled, injured, ignored and finally recalled in a draining seven-week journey. Saturday's team includes nine players who started that match on the same Stade de France pitch a month ago as well as four survivors from the XV who started the 2003 final -- fullback Jason Robinson, flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, lock Ben Kay and prop and captain Phil Vickery. Centre Mike Catt, 36 last month, came off the bench in 2003 and will become the oldest player to feature in a World Cup final, while his centre partner Mathew Tait is, at 21, the youngest. England are seeking to become the first team to retain the title but Vickery, who played in every match four years ago, said the squad's experience would only take them so far.

ITN Source | October 18, 2007

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