Catt to make first England start since RWC

Mike Catt will make his first England start since the World Cup semi-final victory over France in Saturday’s first Test against New Zealand.

England head coach Clive Woodward has turned to Catt, who will win his 64th cap in Dunedin, as centre replacement for the rested Will Greenwood.

Catt, 32, has seen his season hampered by injuries, while he also failed to agree a new contract with Bath and will play for their Zurich Premiership rivals London Irish next term.

However, Catt has the invaluable quality of experience, which gives him a clear edge over Wasps centre and midfield rival Stuart Abbott.

Woodward has made seven changes, including one positional switch, from the side beaten 24-21 by France in the RBS 6 Nations Championship 10 weeks ago.

Wasps’ Josh Lewsey moves from wing to full-back, instead of the rested Jason Robinson, so Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel will feature for his first England start since a World Cup warm-up victory over Wales last August.

Fly-half Charlie Hodgson also returns, preferred to Bath’s Olly Barkley, who started England’s last two Six Nations games but now fails even to feature on the bench.

In the forwards, Leicester prop Julian White takes over from the injured Phil Vickery, Premiership player of the season Simon Shaw partners Danny Grewcock in the second row and Sale Sharks forward Chris Jones reclaims blindside flanker duties from Joe Worsley.

England, who have travelled to New Zealand without 14 members of their victorious World Cup squad, are chasing a third successive victory over the All Blacks.