KEY POINTS:
PARIS - Mike Catt showed both the advantages and limits of experience as his native South Africa denied the veteran midfielder a second World Cup winners' medal with a 15-6 victory over England in Saturday's final here at the Stade de France.
In their quarter-final win over Wales
four years ago, Catt rescued England's World Cup campaign with an astute tactical kicking display which eased the pressure on Jonny Wilkinson.
But on Saturday it was Catt's opposing inside centre Francois Steyn, 16 years his junior, who landed the ultimately crushing blow with a huge penalty effort in the 61st minute.
Thirty-six days earlier the 36-year-old Catt, born in Port Elizabeth, had looked an uncomfortable figure during England's 36-0 Pool loss to South Africa - the Red Rose side's record World Cup defeat - where he alternated between 10 and 12 with former rugby league international Andy Farrell.
But Catt, back in his favoured inside centre role, looked far more composed with the now fit-again Wilkinson inside him and on Saturday was soon gaining England valuable territory with some well-directed kicks.
Catt, long regarded as one of England's best playmakers, had arrived in his adopted country back in 1992, when South Africa were still in the international wilderness because of apartheid.
He soon found himself an understudy to the gifted Stuart Barnes at Bath - the south-west Premiership club where current England boss Brian Ashton made his name as a coach.
Ashton had spoken earlier this week of the value of experience and Catt, in his fourth World Cup, certainly could not be faulted on that front.
However, towards the end of the first half, Catt's age appeared to catch up with him.
Steyn, the talented 20-year-old who first came to England's attention during the Springboks' two Tests at Twickenham in November, beat Catt's attempted tackle and sped into the title-holders' 22.
It was a graphic demonstration that while nous is fine, it only does you so much good in a one-on-one situation with a faster opponent.
Then, soon after Jason Robinson - England's lone try-scorer in their 2003 final triumph against Australia - limped off, Catt joined him on the bench.
But in Catt's case, his exit appeared to be a tactical substitution with inexperienced 22-year-old Toby Flood, a late call-up to the squad after his Newcastle team-mate Jamie Noon sustained a tournament-ending knee injury in England's previous encounter with South Africa, taking his place.
For Catt, dropped and recalled on a repeat basis since making his England debut in 1994, and whose Test career has seen him play at full-back, fly-half and centre, it was a desperately low key exit.
- AFP