OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Wednesday 7.00pm.
ENGLISH flyhalf Mike Catt will not be asked to take any place kicks against the Springboks on Saturday, after he missed what would have been a match winning conversion against Australia last weekend, the English rugby camp said on Wednesday.
The South African-born player, who replaced the injured Paul Grayson in the first-half of the 12-11 defeat, keeps his place because Grayson has not recovered from a knee strain but will hand over the kicking duties to scrum-half Matt Dawson, who doesn’t even kick for his club.
“Catt has no excuses. Last weekend he came on in the first half when Paul went off and found it difficult to impose himself at number 10,” England coach Clive Woodward said.
“It can be demanding to go into that position as a sub and control events. But this time he is starting,” the embattled coach added.
England’s hopes of stopping the Springboks from recording a world record 18th successive Test win received another blow when first choice centre Will Greenwood also had to surrender to a groin strain that had ruled him out of the Wallabies match.
Grayson and Greenwood join concussed fullback Matt Perry on the sidelines.
Woodward, who is seeking to end England’s three year drought against Southern Hemisphere nations, has retained former captain Phil de Glanville as Jeremy Guscott’s centre partner.
Nick Beal, who made his debut against Argentina two years ago but played in the centre in what was virtually an England second team on their disastrous tour of the Southern Hemisphere last summer, comes in for Perry.
Woodward has also recalled wing Dan Luger, who played in both the World Cup qualifiers last month, for the out-of-form scrum-half turned wing Austin Healey.–AFP