Cueto in for Lewsey in Eng’s final team

Mark Cueto was yesterday given a dream England recall when coach Brian Ashton named him as the replacement for injured winger Josh Lewsey for Saturday’s World Cup final.

Lewsey misses the game with a hamstring strain and Cueto, who began the tournament as fullback but had not featured in the match squads for either the quarter- or semifinals, was put straight in. Dan Hipkiss, who performed well at centre after coming on for Lewsey at the end of the first half against France on Saturday, remains on the bench.There had been speculation that Mathew Tait, who played the second half on the wing, would retain that position to counter the threat of speedy Springbok wingers Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen but he returns to outside centre in an otherwise unchanged team.South Africa will name their team today.England: 15-Jason Robinson, 14-Paul Sackey, 13-Mathew Tait, 12-Mike Catt, 11-Mark Cueto, 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Andy Gomarsall, 8-Nick Easter, 7-Lewis Moody, 6-Martin Corry, 5-Ben Kay, 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Phil Vickery (captain), 2-Mark Regan, 1-Andrew Sheridan.Replacements: 16-George Chuter, 17-Matt Stevens, 18-Lawrence Dallaglio, 19-Joe Worsley, 20-Peter Richards, 21-Toby Flood, 22-Dan Hipkiss.Nampa-ReutersDan Hipkiss, who performed well at centre after coming on for Lewsey at the end of the first half against France on Saturday, remains on the bench.There had been speculation that Mathew Tait, who played the second half on the wing, would retain that position to counter the threat of speedy Springbok wingers Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen but he returns to outside centre in an otherwise unchanged team.South Africa will name their team today.England: 15-Jason Robinson, 14-Paul Sackey, 13-Mathew Tait, 12-Mike Catt, 11-Mark Cueto, 10-Jonny Wilkinson, 9-Andy Gomarsall, 8-Nick Easter, 7-Lewis Moody, 6-Martin Corry, 5-Ben Kay, 4-Simon Shaw, 3-Phil Vickery (captain), 2-Mark Regan, 1-Andrew Sheridan.Replacements: 16-George Chuter, 17-Matt Stevens, 18-Lawrence Dallaglio, 19-Joe Worsley, 20-Peter Richards, 21-Toby Flood, 22-Dan Hipkiss.Nampa-Reuters