Catt comes full circle with return to centre for England

MIKE CATT will complete one of English rugby’s great comebacks when he runs out in the World Cup semi-final against France on Sunday.

The 32-year-old Bath centre has forced himself into England boss Clive Woodward’s midfield equation, removing his club colleague Mike Tindall in the process.

It represents a staggering revival in fortunes for Catt, who spent most of last season injured and only made England’s World Cup squad because Charlie Hodgson and Alex King were both injured.

But his decision to take the summer off, make a full recovery and recharge the batteries has reaped glorious dividends.

Sunday’s clash at Telstra Stadium will see Catt win his 60th cap, but make just a second Test start since England beat South Africa at Twickenham two years ago.

Catt’s selection is one of four personnel changes from the Welsh clash. Josh Lewsey returns to full-back, prop Trevor Woodman takes over from Jason Leonard and flanker Richard Hill is back for a first appearance since England’s World Cup opener a month ago.

Flanker Hill replaces Lewis Moody, but he will be on the bench, along with Tindall and Leonard.

With Lewsey reclaiming the number 15 jersey after recovering from a hamstring injury, Jason Robinson switches from full-back to right-wing duties and Dan Luger drops out.

Leonard, meanwhile, is on the bench. If required, he will win his 112th Test cap and break Frenchman Philippe Sella’s world record.

“I knew that if I just kept quiet and put my head down, I knew I would be capable of playing international rugby again,” said Catt.

“Clive believes in my ability, and has for the past five years, for which I am very grateful.

“A lot of people wrote me off six months ago, even two months ago, and that’s why I say rugby is so fickle.

“This team has performed well in the last two years, but maybe there’s a bit of staleness. Hopefully, I can bring a bit of freshness and a different perspective into the game.”

Woodward has no doubt that Catt deserves his call-up, even though Tindall remains one of England’s most consistent performers.

“It was quite straightforward, he has been playing very well. I don’t think it is any slight on Mike Tindall at all. Catt deserves his chance,” said the England coach.

With Hill reunited alongside Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio at Lewis Moody’s expense, England’s revered back-row unit know they face a potentially match-winning battle with the French breakaway trio of Serge Betsen, Olivier Magne and Imanol Harinordoquy.

Explained Woodward: “Test match rugby is about winning. We’ve got a winning mentality, even though we haven’t been playing well, but we are still winning.

“Clearly, France are going into the game with a little more form than us, but I think that you will find come Sunday, you can tear all those postscripts up. It’s 15 versus 15.

“It doesn’t matter how we win. We are not Torvill and Dean, we are not here to get marks out of 10.”

ENGLAND: J. Lewsey;, J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Catt, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; T Woodman, S Thompson, P Vickery, M Johnson (capt), B Kay, R Hill, N Back, L Dallaglio.

Replacements: D West, J Leonard, M Corry, L Moody, K Bracken M Tindall, I. Balshaw.

FRANCE: N. Brusque; A. Rougerie, Y. Jauzion, T. Marsh; C. Dominici; F. Michalak, F. Galthie (capt); J.J.Crenca, R. Ibanez, S. Marconnet, F. Pelous (Toulouse), J. Thion, S. Betsen, O. Magne , I Harinordoquy.

Replacements: Y Bru, O. Milloud, D. Auradou, C. Labit, G. Merceron, D. Traille, C. Poitrenaud (Toulouse).