Ashton's final squad included three 35-year-olds - Catt, Dallaglio and Regan - and had an average age of almost 30.

New Zealand Herald columnist Chris Rattue said: "England haven't so much turned back the clock, but launched a time machine to pick their World Cup squad."

But Ashton replied: "The more I've looked at the World Cup, the more I've felt that it is a place for players with real mental strength and big-match experience."