England recall Chris Heighington for World Cup final
Tuesday 28 November 2017 11:18, UK
Veteran forward Chris Heighington has been recalled by England for the World Cup final against Australia on Saturday in Brisbane.
The 34-year-old Cronulla second-rower has been handed the vacant bench spot, with James Roby starting at hooker in place of the injured Josh Hodgson.
Hodgson is facing six months out with a torn anterior cruciate ligament after suffering the injury in last Saturday's semi-final win over Tonga.
Roby, who won his 30th cap at Mount Smart Stadium, is the only other specialist hooker in head coach Wayne Bennett's 24-man squad and will be expected to play long minutes at Suncorp Stadium.
Instead of opting for Stefan Ratchford or George Williams to provide back-up, Bennett will now hope Roby can get through most, if not all, of the tournament's decider.
Heighington played in England's opening two matches of the World Cup against Australia and Lebanon but sat out the last group game against France as well as the two knock-out games so far.
Captain Sean O'Loughlin has been named in the team as he battles to shake off a quad injury sustained in the semi-final.
Team: G Widdop; J McGillvary, K Watkins, J Bateman, R Hall; K Brown, L Gale; C Hill, J Roby, J Graham, S Burgess, E Whitehead, S O'Loughlin.
Interchange: A Walmsley, B Currie, T Burgess, C Heighington.
