WILL CARLING yesterday confirmed that he had played his last match in England's centre and in doing so opened the way for his old partner Jerry Guscott to add to his 48 caps.

Carling, who stands down after 10 seasons eight of them as captain - kept Guscott out of the England side this season, although it was Guscott who was chosen as England's sole representative in the midfield for the Lions.

Yesterday's announcement by the shrewd Harlequins star maintained his record of manipulating his career on his own terms.

He quit as team leader in March last year when coach Jack Rowell might have been thinking of making a change.

Now he hangs up the white shirt when next season Rowell would have been looking around for potential successors to Carling.

Guscott, Carling's regular partner except for injury or omission from 1989 onwards, led the praise for Carling's achievements and said: "His record speaks for itself.

"The period when Will and I played alongside so many talented rugby players was a brilliant era for England.

"Unfortunately the backs only seldom fulfilled our potential, 1990 and 1992 were exceptions. But that was no fault of Will's.

"He has judged this the right time to go. He always sticks with his decisions but only he will know next November whether he has chosen correetly. I expect he will miss the involvement. It has been a large part of his life."

Carling said: "If I believed I could get to the next World Cup in 30 months' time as an England centre then there would be a goal to induce me to carry on. But realistically I do not feel that I can do that.

I had something to prove this season: that I could earn my place as a player after standing down as captain. But I cannot find a reason like that for continuing next season.

"But I will retain my involvement with Harlequins and look forward to international rugby on a club level now that we have qualified for Europe."

Carling won 72 caps and led England in 59 of them. His leadership record comprised 44 wins with 14 defeats and a draw.

He was named captain at the age of 22 in October 1988 and former coach Geoff Cooke recalls: "That was the best decision I made in my rugby life."

Current coach Rowell followed Cooke's example and said: "Will is the natural leader of England.

"He is respected by the players and captains by example. He earns his place in the team and has a wonderful record as a winning captain."