KEY POINTS:
Those England rugby selectors, eh. They never fail to have a surprise up their sleeve.
At various times, they've rocked punters by resurrecting the seemingly lost careers of 'evergeen' players like Mike Catt, Jeremy Guscott and Lawrence Dallaglio.
But this time, they've outdone even themselves.
How about taking a washed-up former rugby league player who's recently turned his hand to union, and put him out of position at first five-eighths for a crucial World Cup match against a rugby superpower?
World champions England, without a recognised flyhalf after injuries to Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley, have handed the number 10 jersey for Friday's Pool A showdown with South Africa to Andy Farrell.
With Wilkinson and Barkley ruled out of the Springboks game, Farrell will take on goalkicking duties for the pivotal clash at the Stade de France.
England director of elite rugby Rob Andrew, a former first five-eighths, said Farrell, the former Britain rugby league captain who has enjoyed a mixed baptism at centre in international rugby union this year, could prove the doubters wrong.
"He's shown all along that he's got all the attributes in terms of his skills and his decision-making, his kicking and defence," he told a news conference.
- REUTERS
