England's fortunes have taken a turn for the better this afternoon with the news that Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley are both fit enough to be named in the starting XV ahead of their third World Cup match against Samoa.
Wilkinson has yet to play in the competition after recovering from an ankle injury, while Barkley - first choice back-up for the outhalf - was forced to sit out the 36-0 defeat to South Africa with a hip injury.
The inclusion of both means that Barkley will start at inside centre instead of Andy Farrell, whose late foray into rugby union is looking increasingly ill-advised. The former league player drops to the bench.
The news offers some respite to coach Brian Ashton who lost his only stand-out player against the Springboks, Jason Robinson, to a hamstring injury, while Jamie Noon has returned home for further treatment on a tournament-ending knee injury.
Outhalf Mike Catt, scrumhalf Shaun Perry and flanker Tom Rees also pay the price for the dour display in Saint Denis and are omitted from the match-day 22 altogether.
Somewhat surprisingly for a coach who needs leaders on the pitch, Asthon has opted to retain Nick Easter at number eight in place of the more experienced Lawrence Dallaglio. The Harlequins player is joined in the backrow by stand-in captain Martin Corry and Wasps' Joe Worsley.
At hooker, Leicester's George Chuter is preferred to Mark Regan for his World Cup debut.
In the backline, only right wing Paul Sackey stays where he was, while Josh Lewsey moves from the left to fullback in place of Robsinson. He is replaced by Mark Cueto.
Barkley forms a new central partnership with Newcastle's Mathew Tait, while Harlequins' Andy Gomarsall will be feeding Wilkinson from scrumhalf, after Perry was relieved of his duties at half time against South Africa.
The new look side needs a result against Samoa if they are to qualify. The islanders though, will have been hurt by their narrow defeat to Tonga at the weekend, and determined to rekindle their own hopes of qualification behind South Africa.
Provided England beat Samoa and Tonga, their likely opponents in the last eight will be Australia, but Ashton can only concentrate on the next 10 days which will make or break England's World Cup campaign.
J Lewsey (Wasps), P Sackey (Wasps), M Tait (Newcastle), O Barkley (Bath), M Cueto (Sale Sharks), J Wilkinson (Newcastle), A Gomarsall (Harlequins), A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), B Kay (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester, capt), J Worsley (Wasps), N Easter(Harlequins).
Replacements: M Regan (Bristol), P Freshwater (Perpignan), S Borthwick (Bath), L Moody (Leicester), P Richards (London Irish), A Farrell (Saracens), D Hipkiss (Leicester).
