KEY POINTS:
PARIS - Mark Cueto earned a dream recall to the England team for Sunday morning's (NZ time) World Cup final as the holders began their last preparations to face South Africa.
Cueto replaced injured winger Josh Lewsey in the only change to the starting side that won last
weekend's semi-final against France after coach Brian Ashton opted to go for experience.
"Mark has played a lot of international rugby in the back three and we can expect a fair old aerial bombardment. Experience in that position is quite important," Ashton said.
Cueto has been through the full range of emotions during this tournament. Dropped, recalled, injured, ignored then finally recalled for the biggest match of all.
"I would have played in the front row if they had asked me," he told reporters.
"I still feel I've got a point to prove to myself, to my friends and family, so to get an opportunity to do that in a final is a special chance."
South Africa were also due to name their team on Wednesday but delayed the announcement until Thursday, although there are unlikely to be any changes to the side that beat Argentina on Sunday.
The Springboks completed a light training session behind closed doors and are brimming with confidence after thumping England 36-0 during the pool phase.
"It's just a dream come true," centre Jaque Fourie told reporters after practice.
"It's a thing that we've worked for four years now as a team and just knowing that you're at the end of it and we're going to win it is just amazing."
RAPID REVERSAL
Fourie acknowledged that England have undergone a rapid form reversal since reverting to a tighter game plan which will make the match much closer, but he believes South Africa have the players to adapt to any situation.
"It's a final. At any knockout stage, it's not by how many points you win it, you just have to win it," he said.
"Nobody's going to remember how you won it, just that you won it."
The fallout from France's defeat by England continued to bubble along with first five-eighths Frederic Michalak joining in the criticism of coach Bernard Laporte's instructions to abandon their traditional running game for a heavy kicking game.
The tactic seemed to be working when France led by a single point with five minutes to go but their failure to make more of their territorial advantage came back to haunt them when Jonny Wilkinson banged over a late penalty then a drop goal to give England victory.
Michalak has been picked to start in a reshuffled French team for Friday's third-place playoff against Argentina but was nevertheless unable to hide his frustration.
"He's not my friend. He's my coach. I found it sometimes difficult to understand his instructions. I didn't agree with all of them," Michalak said.
Argentina made six changes, including four in the forwards, to the team that lost to South Africa with halfback Agustin Pichot retained as captain.
"We have always tried (in the tournament) to send out the best team and we're doing the same for this match," coach Marcelo Loffreda said after naming his lineup.
- REUTERS