Catt among the pigeons

By CHRIS RATTUE

Maybe Jonny Wilkinson has passed on his World Cup yips.

England coach Clive Woodward has altered one of the basic rugby ingredients in his side for Sunday's semifinal against France in Sydney by bringing Mike Catt into the starters.

Woodward has installed Catt for Mike Tindall - he of the solid defence and straight running, although with little rugby imagination - for the clash between the Northern Hemisphere heavyweights.

The English will be comforted by the return of their workhorse loose forward Richard Hill, who has not played since injuring a hamstring against Georgia just over a month ago. They also have fullback Josh Lewsey and Iain Balshaw back after injury problems.

England now look much more like the England everyone expected to contest the Webb Ellis Cup, compared with the side who often bungled the quarter-final against Wales.

But in the major selection drama, Woodward has brought in Catt at second five-eighth after the South African-born utility sparked them into action against the Welsh as a second-half replacement.

The man who will forever be known as the Catt who got creamed by Jonah Lomu in the 1995 semifinal, has been included to inject some flair into a team who have previously shown scant regard for this sporting commodity.

Woodward dallies between defending his side's form and suggesting something else.

"It's a brutal world we live in," he said at the team's hotel in Manly. "We've got a winning mentality, even though we haven't been playing well, and we're confident of keeping that winning record going.

"It doesn't matter how we win. We're not Torvill and Dean. We're not here to get marks out of 10. We're here to win."

Catt's selection, though, makes it clear England are a touch rattled.

First, Catt will take pressure off Wilkinson, whom some - although not Woodward - believe has a touch of stage fright.

Woodward instead said England needed to find the width to their game which had disappeared at the tournament. Tindall is a power inside back, whereas Catt has more skills and is lighter on his feet.

So the England formula has been tampered with, as Woodward breaks up the midfield combination of Tindall and Will Greenwood.

The 32-year-old Catt, who was out of the England squad for two years while dealing with injuries, stumbled when asked how his presence might help Wilkinson's game.

English media officer Richard Prescott intervened, as Catt hesitated in a manner Woodward will hope is not repeated on the field, when asked the question.

England have also included two tight-loose forwards, Lewis Moody and Martin Corry, on the bench, rather than another lock, and brought in Trevor Woodman for Jason Leonard at prop, obviously to deal with the French pace.

Woodward displayed a typical mix of dry humour and tetchiness, describing criticism of his team as "positive feedback from media outlets around the world."

And when asked about the other semifinal, he flew in the face of the form book. "Who's playing ... I'm concentrating on England."

Then he added: "I haven't changed my view for two years. Australia are the team to beat. I think Australia will win."

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