England plan to take direct route

ANDY FARRELL will epitomise the “direct approach” England intend adopting to muscle Australia out of Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final at Stade Velodrome.

England head coach Brian Ashton has packed his side with experience, admitting a preference for “players who have been there, in these sort of situations, before.”

While Farrell’s rugby union Test career has not reached double figures with regard to caps, his big-match temperament gleaned from years playing at the highest level in rugby league could prove vital to England’s cause.