KEVIN SORRELL has backed Andy Farrell to silence his critics when England launch their defence of the Rugby World Cup tomorrow (Saturday).

Brian Ashton's ill-prepared party take on the USA in Lens with Farrell forced to settle for a place on the bench as Mike Catt gets the nod at inside centre.

However, with Jonny Wilkinson suffering ankle ligament damage in training this week and Olly Barkley filling the fly half berth, Farrell will be England's back up kicker and could feature at some point in the game.

The Saracens centre played in two of three of England's World Cup warm up games including the record rout of Wales. However, Ashton has overlooked the Wigan legend in favour of injury plagued London Irish veteran Catt for the Pool A curtain raiser.

But Sorrell, Farrell's midfield partner at Saracens reckons the 32-year-old code breaker will make his mark at his first, and final, World Cup.

"He is a great organiser and a great talker and the worst thing you can do on a rugby pitch is go quiet because it's useless to everyone," said Sorrell, who is now in his 12th year with the Men in Black. "He's outstanding in that area (communication) and gets the best out of people.

"The skills that Faz has brought over from league are very transferable to union. His ability to organise, offload, get to go forward and his decision making with the ball in hand are second to none, so I think with those attributes he can do that in the right environment.

"The role we use him in at Saracens is a role that suits Andy and he worked very well linking with Jacko (Glen Jackson).

"As long as he has got the right personnel around him, and they use him in the right way, he will be very effective (for England)."

Farrell has come in for a barrage of criticism ever since he was made the fall guy for England's Six Nations thrashing to Ireland earlier this year, vitriol which Sorrell says is unwarranted.

"I think some of the things that have been written about him have been completely out of order and I know that Faz will right those wrongs, absolutely," added the 30-year-old, who helped England Saxons win the Churchill Cup over the summer. "He will step up to the plate when needed and I just hope he gets the opportunity during the World Cup to prove his doubters wrong.

"Andy is such a focused and very determined guy that when he goes out and does his job he makes sure he executes it well. Throughout his career he has had any number of challenges with doubters knocking him, but this is another rung on the ladder for him and he's prepared to do it, so fair play to him."

Sorrell also laughed off suggestions Farrell's perceived lack of pace leaves England vulnerable to swift counter plays, instead citing England World Cup winner turned pundit Will Greenwood as a prime example that you do not have to be jet heeled to be an effective team player.

"Look at Wiil Greenwood - your not telling me he was a 100m sprint champion," added Sorrell. "Will had a very astute rugby brain and Faz is no different. People will always look for excuses and whether Faz is short of a yard of pace his brain is as sharp as anything, which more than equates for it."

While Sorrell has never hid his disappointment at being continually overlooked for the senior England squad he will be monitoring their progress in the tournament intently, although he admits the Webb Ellis Trophy will have a new home in two months time.

"I think it's going to be very tough for England as they've a tough group with the South Africa match, while the Samoans will be no easy bait," said Sorrell. "The quarter finals is possible but England need to put three massive games together to get there. They have got South Africa then the quarters, which are two huge games for them as well as the Samoa match. So to put a run of three big games together will, I think, be a bridge too far for them."

Sorrell also agreed with Lawrence Dallaglio's comments this week that England should have started planning for this year's World Cup immediately after winning the last one, instead of basking in their glory for all too long.

"Hindsight is a great thing and looking back you would have to say England should have drawn a line under it and then move forward and look at who is going to be there in 2007," he said. "They should have got rid of the sentiment and built the team over the four years, rather that it be an ongoing process at the moment.

"There is a lesson to be learnt there."

Sorrell, who starts for Sarries in their final pre season friendly against Munster tonight, is also looking forward at seeing several of his other clubmates perform on the world stage.

Italy pair Matias Aguero and Fabio Ongaro, Fijian trio Cencus Johnston, Kameli Ratuvou and Mosese Rauluni, and All Blacks lock Chris Jack all have their eye on rugby's most glittering prize.

"Chris is an outstanding second row and New Zealand will be there or thereabouts," said Sorrell. "I'm also looking forward to seeing Cencus as he's a bit of a powerhouse, mowing people down, while it will be good to see Kameli with the ball in his hands as he was pretty dangerous for us last year.

"Italy will cause a few surprises. They've got a good forward pack, (Pierre) Berbizier has got them well organised and I think they will be very competitive. Whether they get a couple of scalps in them I don't know.

"New Zealand are the obvious favourites but South Africa have got some very good packs, some game breaking backs and if they can keep it together they can be in or around the final."

Saracens to face Munster tonight: Scarbrough, Haughton, Sorrell, Powell, Thrower, Ross, de Kock; Lloyd, Cairns, Mercey, Ryder, Vyvyan, Gustard, Seymour, Skirving. Replacements: Yates, Kyriacou, Fullarton, Chesney, Matadigo, Hill, Hall, Dickens, Penney, Cato, Goode.