Aston risks Cueto for World Cup Final

In a move that betrays England's defensive attitude to the Paris showdown, head coach Brian Ashton has gone for the out-of-form Sale wing in preference to Dan Hipkiss, who made a big impression in last weekend's semi-final win over France.

Cueto, who has been a pale shadow of his normal self during the tournament and is clearly short of confidence, will replace London Wasps Josh Lewsey, who tore his right hamstring last weekend. Mathew Tait remains at outside-centre. He would have switched to wing if Hipkiss had been given the No13 jersey but the Leicester centre is again on the replacements' bench.

Cueto, who has won 23 caps, was supposed to be England's answer to their full-back problem but performed badly in the warm-up match with France in Marseille.

He did play in the pool wins over the USA, Samoa and Tonga but without much conviction and then injury cost him his place.

Hipkiss has every right to feel aggrieved after making an immediate impact when he replaced Lewsey on Saturday. Tait moved to wing to accommodate the hard-running Leicester man, who is an attacking threat and very strong in the defensive line.

However, Hipkiss is 25 and has only 61 minutes of World Cup action in three appearances as a replacement. It appears that Asthon has opted for the experience of Cueto for what will be a fiercely contested final. Cueto was hampered by groin and thigh injuries before the tournament, which appeared to have seriously affected his confidence. Until his recall today, the 27-year-old has been a peripheral figure in the England squad at their Paris hotel during the knock-out stages.

Suddenly, he is back in the starting XV and facing the greatest rugby challenge of a Test career that started against Canada in 2004. He is a prodigious try-scorer, having amassed 13, and a return to that kind of form is needed on Saturday.

Ashton's selection decision means young Nick Abendanon is not required on the England bench following his late call-up to join the squad. He can now sit back and enjoy the final from one of the best seats in the stadium knowing that if England win, he will collect a winners' medal without having played a part in the tournament.

South Africa have delayed naming their team until tomorrow, showing they are also being affected by the occasion unless they are hiding an injury problem.