How a smoke-and-mirrors exercise is meant to wrong-foot New Zealand in Saturday's World Cup semi-final is anyone's guess, but England have announced a 19-man squad that is unlikely to fool the Kiwis. Conspicuously absent were the names of Ade Gardner, who is still expected to feature on the right wing, and Danny McGuire, who will partner Rob Burrow at half back if Leon Pryce has not fully recovered from a rib injury.

Tony Smith fulfilled tournament obligations by announcing his side yesterday, but the coach reserves the right to alter it for the match at Suncorp Stadium and substantial changes would not be a surprise. In his starting XIII, Smith has promoted Mick Higham over James Roby to start at No9 if, indeed, he is prepared to include two hookers, and retains Paul Wellens, despite a serious doubt over the full back's damaged ankle ligaments sustained in the 36-24 loss to New Zealand in the final pool game last Saturday.

Jon Wilkin, the St Helens forward, returns after a facial injury incurred in the 52-4 defeat by Australia. Unsurprisingly, there are no places for the Bradford Bulls pair of Paul Sykes and Jamie Langley after the defeat by New Zealand in Newcastle, after which Smith called for a northern-hemisphere referee. He was disappointed to discover yesterday that Shayne Hayne, the Australian official, will take charge of their semi-final in Brisbane.

England have been refereed by Australians throughout and Smith's appeal for one of the two British referees, Ashley Klein and Steve Ganson, to take charge fell on deaf ears. Klein will referee Sunday's semi-final between Australia and Fiji in Sydney.

Smith took issue with three New Zealand tries in the last match and a penalty award for the Kiwis to go 26-24 ahead in the 70th minute, for which Isaac Luke admitted that he took a dive when nudged by Kevin Sinfield in pursuit of a high kick.

“It was agreed that appointments would be made on merit and, where merit permits, we would appoint on the basis of neutrality,” Mick Stone, the referees controller, said after meeting Smith and Stephen Kearney, the New Zealand coach, who said: “I am always a believer that the best man should get the job regardless of where he is from.”

Regardless of the minnows from Fiji, Australia have named a full-strength side for their semi-final, with Darren Lockyer, the captain, Petero Civoniceva, Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Glenn Stewart and Anthony Laffranchi recalled after being rested for the final pool win over Papua New Guinea.