Catt is top dog
25 May 2006
England’s veteran World Cup winning centre Mike Catt capped a terrific season by being named Premiership player of the season.
The South African-born 34-year-old had an outstanding season for London Irish, inspiring them to the play-offs, and earned himself a recall to the England squad for the tour of Australia.
The former Bath stalwart beat off rivals, Northampton’s ex-All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer, Wasps’ back Tom Voyce, Sale lock Jason White and Bristol scrumhalf Shaun Perry.
While most of Catt’s fellow World Cup winning team-mates have faded from the scene head coach Andy Robinson believes he could make it through to the 2007 World Cup.
“If he is managed correctly then he can make it. London Irish have managed him very well this year and that is why he has performed at the level he has,” said Robinson when he called him up
for the two-Test tour.
“He has been re-enthused – he was a world class centre for England and very much part of England winning the World Cup with his performances against Wales, France and coming off the bench in the final. He is a quality operator.”
“He’s coming on tour for two games and some of the older players can’t train every day and as long as we manage him correctly I don’t doubt that he can challenge for a place in the World Cup squad.”
18 Comments
25 May 2006, 06:35 am
Well done Mike Catt … Good to see South Africans doing so well , even at the age of 34 .
25 May 2006, 07:01 am
You’re joking rite.
25 May 2006, 07:47 am
pompies ,
if that was directed at me , then no i am not joking … you can say what you like about mike Catt , but he has achieved alot as a player … he has played in teams that have won the 6 Nations and a World Cup … and now he is the Premiership player of the year . He was chosen ahead of many great players and at the age of 34 thats bad and has earned a recall to the England squad to add to his 65 odd caps .
Just going on the facts he has done really well for himself .
25 May 2006, 07:54 am
What ever happened to his brother Richard?
25 May 2006, 08:59 am
Catt is a doos. Remember how Jonah ran OVER him? Just shows how pitiable english rugby has become.
25 May 2006, 09:17 am
Dooster are you trying to prove to everyone that the stereotypical image of a arrogant and ignorant South African is TRUE?
25 May 2006, 09:41 am
His brother Richard once sat on the England bench – in ’94 vs EP. England had so many injuries, they called up Richard from the EP bench. He never got on though.
Catt did play well this year – but I think this award is more to recognise his effect on the London Irish team, than on individual play. He organised/galvanised the team very well.
25 May 2006, 09:42 am
Dooster ,
remember how the entire english team ran over the boks at twickenham in 2002 and 2004 ?
and yes i am a bok fan , but give credit where it is due …
and the boks havent beaten the poms for a long , long time and the true test for us will be at the end of the year when we play them at twickenham twice in a row …
as south africans we are quick to throw around insults , but the truth of the matter is the poms have punished physically the last few times we have met them … even though i hate the poms they are still up on us … our record against them speaks for itself …
25 May 2006, 09:47 am
thanks gecko ,
his brother would have gone very far if he hadnt suffered so many injuries and he left EP … he was very talented scrumhalf at school boy level , club level and in a EP team that was once very competetive and he kept Chad Alcock out the EP team for a few seasons …
25 May 2006, 10:00 am
Grey, post 8
What record would that be? Clarify please. ‘… the poms are still up on us… our record against them speaks for itself’
If anyone does want to know the stats here they are.
Played 24 won 12 lost 11
Of the 24 played 14 were played in England one in France one in Australia. 8 in South Africa.
25 May 2006, 10:02 am
So the Boks are only up by 1 game. But after this seasons tour the stats will still read only 8 matches played in SA and 16 in England.
25 May 2006, 11:47 am
Dooster(post 5).
Jona ran over a lot of Poms that day, including Rory Underwood.
He Touched the ball 8 times in the game.
Scored 4 tries,
created 2 tries,
and gave one Pom an Ambulance trip to the Hospital for X-rays.
We all have 0ur off days.
25 May 2006, 12:50 pm
TigerShark , I read those stats in SaRugby as well …
but i think you are getting me wrong here , i am a bok fan and dislike the poms , but in recenet years , weather we have played here or there doesnt matter , they have had the upper hand on us , I would like to see the stats since 1992 …. as the new boks records since 92 are poor against most nations … which is very sad …
25 May 2006, 14:17 pm
It was ridiculous to compare win loss ratios and include the amatuer era.
Rugby only started for real after the 95 rwc.
25 May 2006, 14:42 pm
hardly surprising, not much talent over there.
25 May 2006, 15:35 pm
StMichel ,
I am sure there will be many peolpe that wont agree with that …
25 May 2006, 16:16 pm
Grey is right, credit due where credit is Due. The Limeys who actually play rugby are of a different Breed of Pom to say someone like STM, hes more the Essex little man – bad teeth – stink feet- cant pronounce his English – type Limey we all despise and wish would fall into the North SEA.
26 May 2006, 08:29 am
Jeeez Cab then WHY DO ENGLAND REGULARLY THRASH the boks???
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