Ashton sticking with his heroes

It means 36-year-old Mike Catt, a late replacement for the injured Andy Farrell and Olly Barkley, keeps his place while Jason Robinson wins his 50th cap.

While Farrell (calf) and Barkley (dead leg) are both now fit, neither has made the bench after Ashton decided to stick with the same 22 who beat Australia 12-10.

Since he took over from Andy Robinson in the new year, Ashton's reign has been marked by disruptions caused by injury and illness.

But for the first time in 16 matches in charge, he has finally achieved some continuity by picking the same team for consecutive games.

France, buoyed by their stunning win over New Zealand, have also decided to name an unchanged 22 for the Stade de France clash.

Frederic Michalak has failed to displace Lionel Beauxis at fly-half, despite turning the game when he came on as a second-half substitute against the All Blacks. Sale Sharks forward Sebastien Chabal must also settle for a place on the bench.

The Englishman inside the French rugby camp, Dave Ellis, today warned his countrymen their World Cup dream will end on Saturday.

Ellis, Les Bleus' defence coach, claimed the French want revenge for England's victory at the same stage of the 2003 tournament and for ruining his adopted country's Six Nations Grand-Slam chase this year.

Ellis, who has been with France for seven years, said: "In 2003, England were too good, but it's a very different feel this time. I thought four years ago 'I would rather lose this one than lose the 2007 one at home'.

"The All Blacks side we beat was the most outstanding team that rugby's seen, almost perfect. But the reason why you can top that is that you've got your biggest local rivals [England] in the semi-final and then a final in your home capital."