Quietly and unemotionally, Josh Lewsey - one of the English heroes of 2003 and an ever-present in their side in this World Cup - yesterday described the moment when he realised he was going to miss this Saturday's final.

A minute before half-time in the semi-final against France and 37 minutes after scoring the only try of the game, he felt a pain in his right leg.

"It wasn't the tackle," said England's left wing after he announced his absence from the final against South Africa. "I'd just come on a switch from Jason (Robinson), I'd just come under (Jean-Baptiste) Elissalde and started putting some power through my right foot to push away (when) I felt it go.

"By the time the tackle came, and you can see it in the footage, it was pretty clear when it went. Anyone who has pulled a hamstring knows what it's like and it was one of those incidents when you know something is up. You try to kid yourself with some sort of hope that it's a sort of spasm or cramp."

However, on Sunday he had a scan. "It was clear that I had a grade-two tear, which, depending on a lot of factors, is three to five weeks."

He was out of the final, and out of England's squad. "I'm gutted, to be honest. Absolutely gutted. It's not just 2003, but me and Ben Kay were the only two to have played every minute of this World Cup.

"There have been some testing times and, let's be honest, the performances over the last three years certainly haven't predicted the outcome of the latter stages of this World Cup. Nobody, not even staunch English people, were expecting England to get to the final let alone having thoughts about winning it.

"There have been times when it's been very trying, very testing. But to come through all that and reach the final of this World Cup and then miss that has been devastating."

This is not the first time Lewsey, a 30-year-old former soldier, has missed a World Cup match in the knock-out rounds with hamstring problems. He had to pull out of the quarter-finals in Australia, but time was on his side and he came back for the semi-final against France and the final against Australia.

This time there will be no second chance. However, the wing with 55 caps intends to stay with the team at their Paris hotel, making himself useful as a backroom boy.

The Rugby Football Union have confirmed that Lewsey would be replaced by 21-year-old Bath fullback Nick Abendanon. Abendanon made his Test debut as a replacement on the tour of South Africa this year and won a second cap against France in August.

Lawrence Dallaglio admitted that Lewsey's absence would be a blow for the defending champions. "He's played in one World Cup final and I'm sure he was looking forward to playing in another. He set the tone for the game at the weekend with a great opening try and put the pressure on France for the rest of the match," the former captain said.

"It will be a blow for him, but one man's disappointment, if he is to miss the final, will be an opportunity for someone else. World Cups are not won by one person, they are won by a squad. I'm sure whoever comes in will do a fantastic job."

After Lewsey went off against France, Mathew Tait switched to the wing with Dan Hipkiss coming on at outside centre. Both performed well, but with South Africa carrying a high-paced threat on both flanks through JP Pietersen and eight-try Bryan Habana, coach Brian Ashton knows his selection in that area is vital.

Tait is fast, but not as defensively assured as Lewsey, and Ashton will be anxious to disrupt his winning team as little as possible. Mark Cueto, who began the tournament at fullback before switching to the wing then losing his place in the squad for the last two games, is the other obvious alternative. Ashton is scheduled to name his team for the final tomorrow afternoon.

English RFU chief executive Francis Baron expects Ashton to be rewarded with a new contract immediately after the World Cup.

Ashton only signed a one-year deal when he replaced Andy Robinson last December, but England's spectacular revival in the last fortnight looks set to earn the former Ireland coach the offer of a substantial contract from director of rugby Rob Andrew next week.

"Brian and Rob Andrew - Rob is Brian's direct boss - will be sitting down immediately after the World Cup," said Baron yesterday.

"Brian clearly has done a great job and I'm sure Rob and Brian will be thrashing it out after the World Cup's finished."