Graphic: How England can make the breakthrough against France

No stronger vote of confidence could have been given this England team than to leave unchanged the lineup that vanquished Australia in Marseilles, and that was exactly what Brian Ashton dealt his England squad yesterday before Saturday’s semi-final here against France.

When the head coach announced the lineup to his squad he did not even bother writing out the names on the teamsheet. They liked that, they liked the faith he was showing in them with such casual certainty. The weeks of chopping and changing in France had followed two further years of uncertainty; this, therefore, is the first unchanged England lineup for 28 matches and there is no doubt that it contributes to the feeling that England are a force that is growing fast.

Earlier yesterday, from their training base at the south of the city, France had also named an unchanged squad from their 22 that beat New Zealand. The make-up of the England team, however, was no reaction to the news from the France camp. Ashton knew his lineup regardless.

The most likely area of possible change had been at inside centre. However, Mike Catt retains the No 12 shirt and Toby Flood, who joined the squad only as a replacement when Jamie Noon was injured, retains his place on the bench.

The obvious losers in the squad announcement are therefore Andy Farrell and Olly Barkley, who were nominally first and second choice for inside centre a week ago and are now down at numbers three and four. Both are fit again after the injuries that kept them out last Saturday. However, Ashton decided that the form with which last week’s team so shook this World Cup was too good to ignore.

“The 22 more than merit another shot at it,” Ashton said. “Toby Flood came on in a pretty hot pressure situation last week and I thought he handled himself exceptionally well in all areas of the game. What he did last week was a step up on anything he’s done before for England.”

Ashton acknowledged that Farrell had a right to feel hard done by. “It’s another really good example of the rotten luck Andy’s had since he’s been involved with England,” he said.

However, yesterday’s team announcement only contributed to the impression of England riding a wave of positive momentum. Ashton, who has been uncharacteristically tetchy and monosyllabic in recent weeks, was relaxed when discussing his team rather than awkward and defensive.

“As a group of players, we always knew we had something inside us,” Catt said. Catt has already admitted that he had thought that this England team would have been on the train home by now. This week, though, he believes England are here to stay.

With the knowing glint of a man who likes to run the ball, Catt also acknowledged that “we probably played too much rugby last week. The coaches were telling us to kick it. But our mindset is that we can run out of our own half.”

Ashton, it seems, will urge a game of tighter discipline against France. “We need to improve in all areas,” he said. “It is a step up this week from last week – I can’t imagine we will catch France off guard. France are an extremely difficult team to play against. You have got to be eternally vigilant against them. You cannot take your eye off them for one minute.”

One other area in which England will be particularly vigilant will be the growing concern over the Gilbert Synergie ball that has caused concern for Jonny Wilkinson and Dan Carter, two of the best recognised kickers at this World Cup, who have struggled for accuracy.

The tournament organisers here have recognised that some of the match balls have been inflated to beyond the recommended pressure. England have therefore asked to be allowed to verify the pressure of the six match balls before the game on Saturday.

They have also asked that Wilkinson, Flood and the other kickers be allowed to practise with all six of the match balls at their official kicking practice session at the Stade de France today. Until now, they have only ever been allowed two of the six.

But for the moment, this England camp is a feel-good place. They have grown accustomed to calling themselves a team of grumpy men, but they are in fact relishing the success that their close bond has won them and simultaneously waking up to the possibilities that now stretch before them.

“Last week was the first time we realised we were in a World Cup,” Catt said. This week, it would appear, is the first time they have realised they could win it.

Teams

England: J Robinson (unattached); P Sackey (London Wasps), M Tait (Newcastle Falcons), M Catt (London Irish), J Lewsey (London Wasps); J Wilkinson (Newcastle Falcons), A Gomarsall (Harlequins); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), M Regan (Bristol), P Vickery (London Wasps, captain), S Shaw (London Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), L Dallaglio (London Wasps), J Worsley (London Wasps), P Richards (Gloucester), T Flood (Newcastle Falcons), D Hipkiss (Leicester).

France: D Traille; V Clerc, D Marty, Y Jauzion, C Heymans; L Beauxis, J-B Elissalde; O Milloud, R Ibañez (captain), P de Villiers, F Pelous, J Thion, S Betsen, T Dusautoir, J Bonnaire. Replacements: J-B Poux, D Szarzewski, S Chabal, I Harinordoquy, F Michalak, C Dominici, C Poitrenaud.

Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa).