Woodward pulls Catt out of the bag

MIKE CATT was last night celebrating a call from the international wilderness to join England’s World Cup elite in their quest for global supremacy.

Catt has been handed an early 32nd birthday present, returning to the England fold almost two years after his last Test match appearance.

With rival fly-halves Charlie Hodgson and Alex King both injured, the World Cup door was flung open, allowing Catt an unlikely late entry into England boss Clive Woodward's selection plans.

Catt's most recent England outing was against South Africa at Twickenham in November, 2001, and he spent last season battling incessant injury troubles which restricted him to barely a dozen first team starts for Bath.

But with Woodward requiring a third No 10 behind Jonny Wilkinson and Paul Grayson, he knew exactly where to turn.

"In a squad like this for the Rugby World Cup, you need three people who can play 10, especially when you consider the tough pool matches we have to play and who we may face in the knockout stages," said Woodward.

"Clearly, we've got two in the squad with Jonny and Paul, but we need a third, and we had already lost Charlie Hodgson and Alex King through injury.

"So quite simply, Mike is the next person in," added Woodward.

"Although his kicking game is fantastic, he's been out for a long time purely because there have been other players ahead of him, but I've been speaking to him regularly over the last six months and the biggest thing for me was him getting back to full fitness, which he has done.

Catt's sense of jubilation will be in stark contrast to the emotions felt by Woodward's unfortunate five.

After Woodward reduced his 43-man training group to 35 players early last week, another five knew they would not make the final cut.

Leicester trio Austin Healey, Ollie Smith and Graham Rowntree, Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel and Wasps lock Simon Shaw won't be travelling Down Under.

But joining Catt on the plane will be his fellow South African-born player, Wasps centre Stuart Abbott.

Woodward received the prefect send off with Saturday's emphatic 45-14 triumph over France at Twickenham.

England fielded 11 of the side which accounted for world champions Australia in June and with star duo Jonny Wilkinson and Martin Johnson in action, the potential for injury disaster was enormous.

But Woodward played his hand brilliantly, hauling off the two jewels in England's crown shortly after Iain Balshaw had guaranteed England's victory with a try 19 seconds into the second half.

The 43 minutes spent on the pitch confirmed that both players were in top form, especially Wilkinson who had lost none of his prolific kicking skills during his lengthy playing lay-off, booting 18 points and missing just one shot at goal.

But the stand-out performer in the home pack was Northampton hooker Steve Thompson who gave a monumental display in the loose and confirmed yet again that he is one of England's star performers.

Thompson's effort earned the praise of France coach Bernard Laporte, who also singled out Ben Kay and Martin Corry from a match which indicated France have plenty to do ahead of the World Cup.

"It's simple England have 30 players of greater quality and ability than we do. It was difficult to win the ball because their reaction speed was much better than ours," he said.

"We weren't helped when our players put us in bad defensive positions and we missed some first-up tackles, but England played very well. I was especially impressed with Steve Thompson, Ben Kay and Martin Corry.

"This game shows that we have a lot of work to do before the World Cup. Beating Fiji in our first pool match is our only objective. After that we will have to see what happens," added Laporte.

England squad :

Full-backs/wings: I Balshaw (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton), J Lewsey (Wasps), D Luger (Perpignan), J Robinson (Sale).

Centres: S Abbott (Wasps), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Tindall (Bath).

Fly-halves: M Catt (Bath), P Grayson (Northampton), J Wilkinson (Newcastle).

Scrum-halves: K Bracken (Saracens), M Dawson (Northampton), A Gomarsall (Gloucester).

Props: J Leonard (Harlequins), P Vickery (Gloucester), J White (Leicester), T Woodman (Gloucester).

Hookers: M Regan (Leeds), S Thompson (Northampton), D West (Leicester).

Second rows: (D Grewcock (Bath), M Johnson (Leicester, capt), B Kay (Leicester)

Back rows: N Back (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps), R Hill (Saracens), L Moody (Leicester), J Worsley (Wasps).