Mike’s mission impossible
6 Mar 2007
Mike Catt will captain a weakened England team against France at Twickenham on Sunday.
Twelve years after being buried by Jonah Lomu in the Newlands turf, Catt has been given the task of leading the world chumps against a French team gunning for the Grand Slam.
Coach Brian Ashton has made 10 changes to the side that was thrashed by Ireland, two of which are positional.
Regular skipper Phil Vickery (concussion), flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson (hamstring) and centre Andy Farrell (back) have all been ruled out of the game. The trio will continue to be assessed during the next few days, with Ashton unsure whether any of the three will regain full fitness in time for England’s final Six Nations fixture against Wales.
Flyhalf Toby Flood and wing Jason Robinson have been brought into the backline. Tim Payne, Julian White, Tom Palmer, Tom Rees and Nick Easter start in the pack, with Martin Corry moved to lock.
Ashton said he had full faith in Catt’s leadership abilities.
“Mike has done a very good job as captain for London Irish this season,” said the coach. “I have been involved with him since 1992 and, if there is any player in English rugby who knows how I want to develop the game, then it is Mike Catt.
“He is a player with a very wide range of skills, and he is a talismanic figure in many ways. He is very knowledgeable about the game, and he is excellent at talking to the players.”
England — 15 Josh Lewsey, 14 Jason Robinson, 13 Mike Tindall, 12 Mike Catt, 11 David Strettle, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Tom Rees, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Tom Palmer, 4 Martin Corry, 3 Julian White, 2 George Chuter, 1 Tim Payne.
Subs: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Stuart Turner, 18 Louis Deacon, 19 Magnus Lund, 20 Shaun Perry, 21 Shane Geraghty, 22 Mathew Tait.
14 Comments
6 Mar 2007, 17:25 pm
No1 winna winna!!
Frogs to take it by 15+
6 Mar 2007, 17:27 pm
go froggies !
6 Mar 2007, 17:38 pm
I did not know that they were involved?!
6 Mar 2007, 17:39 pm
and by the way, allez les bleus!
6 Mar 2007, 17:59 pm
The Froggs are going to demolish the Roses, until there are only a few wilted rose petals left!!
6 Mar 2007, 18:10 pm
froggies will kick some pommy butt
6 Mar 2007, 18:27 pm
Its not so bad, how can you say a team is bad if the backline includes Lewsey, Robinson, Tindall and Catt? 4 RWC 2003 winners…?
6 Mar 2007, 18:34 pm
The English are really at the bottom of there game, and i love it because i am over here in London and the poms i work with i love nothing more than throwing there **** cricket and rugby in there face… they are shark **** at the mo..
6 Mar 2007, 18:46 pm
Malissa,
I hear you – also David Strettle looked good at wing in the last outing and Harry Ellis is a sneaky little nugget.
Mike Catt has always been a go getter, nice to see a Saffa leading the charges and for that reason I WILL support England in this encounter.
I think the Poms might surprise everyone and take this!
6 Mar 2007, 20:45 pm
Is there such a thing as a weakened English side?? Didn’t know they could get any weaker.
6 Mar 2007, 22:19 pm
allez les bleus, allez les bleus
hopefuly the french still bring their A game and smoke the pommies in their own backyard.
french looking to be making a better run into the start of the WC. very interesting.
6 Mar 2007, 22:48 pm
Could not happen to a nicer bunch of people. I have been living in the UK since 2003 and this is honestly the happiest sporting time since I have arrived!
7 Mar 2007, 09:23 am
Does anybody recognise any of the names present in the English Team….i think not barring a few like Robinson,Tindall,Corry etc
England team is in the same boat talent wise as the Wallabies…in ****!!!
Les Bleus by 15
7 Mar 2007, 10:18 am
Man are these Guys going to be dog tucker come WC.
They are so devoid of form, planning and inspiration they have to call upon a 35 yr old as a stop gap.
Oh, and Jonny has gone down again…..what a surprize.
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