Catt warns his troops

Catt warns his troops

1 Jun 2012

England assistant coach Mike Catt has warned his team to expect a ‘brutal tour’ during the June Test series in South Africa.

Catt, who was born in Port Elizabeth before relocating to Bath, traveled to South Africa with England in 1994 and 2000. The former fullback revealed that those were two of the toughest tours he experienced during his playing career, and told his charges to be braced for a tough physical and mental challenge when they take on the Springboks during the three-Test series.

He also warned South African-born centre Brad Barritt and lock Mouritz Botha to expect abuse from their former home nation.

‘You can’t prepare for it. You have to feel it,’ Catt told espnscrum.com. ‘[Head coach] Stuart Lancaster has been sending emails for the past three or four months saying “prepare yourself, prepare yourself, prepare yourself”.

‘Brad Barritt did a presentation for us in connection with what to expect from the country and what to expect from the people – but when it comes onto the pitch it is fierce, it is brutal.

‘I remember us going down in 2000 and we played the first Test and then we couldn’t train until the Thursday because we were so physically battered by it. These guys are going to have to be mentally tough and I think the environment we have created at the moment is going to put us into good stead.’

Catt believes success during the tour in South Africa will build vital confidence heading into the 2015 World Cup, which will be hosted in England.

‘It is a brilliant place to go and a very welcoming place but very, very hostile environment when you do get into the rugby circles. But there is nothing better than beating them,’ Catt said.

‘Winning there was one of the major highlights of my career, knowing what it means to the country and to the people. When we went there in 2000 with Clive Woodward we lost the first Test, which we should have won, and then won the second Test.

‘That tour was a massive stepping stone to the success we had at the World Cup. To go down to South Africa and beat them there was a massive confidence boost for us. With the culture and everything that Stuart has there, we now need to take it another level and build it up to the 2015 World Cup.’


20 Comments

  • 1.whatever: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 06:36 am

    Yeah, yeah, whatever Mike!

    Oh ja………….Dragons………..

  • 2.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:21 am

    yes

    it will be brutal

    there will be blood

  • 3.Train: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:23 am

    Think SA as a rugby country has changes it’s psyche a bit.

    In 2000 we were tough and hard but a bit of it was based on arrogance and especially anger.

    Now I think we’ve moved on we’re still tough and hard (and a but arrogant) but it’s based on professionalism and self confidence in our rugby ability.

    Personally I will be dissapointed if Botha and Barrett get a lot of abuse – they don’t deserve it.

  • 4.Staal: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:34 am

    Pain in the neck this guy…..

    motormouth…

  • 5.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:35 am

    more staal hoe gaan dit?
    gaan jy moftus toe more?

  • 6.Staal: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:41 am

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-5: HI Fern,

    nee ek gaan Roftus toe more. Losie is gestck en ek hoop vir die beste.

  • 7.iceman: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:42 am

    Barrit and Botha will not suffer any abuse from the S.A. public. They did not leave under the same circumstances as say a K.P. or Mike Catt.

  • 8.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:45 am

    ek dog jy het jou eie losie daar op moftus.
    ek sal nie eers vra of ek uitgenooi is nie want jy is nogals n snob
    meng mos nie met marabse soos ek nie
    jou verlies
    n sharks onderstuener het ver meer klas as n flou bul supporter
    onthou om jou pienk trui tedra.

  • 9.slavedriver: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:46 am

    @Train(Train)-3:
    We are there to win and if they get wound up a bit so be it.When you go to a foreign country it is always a hostile environment thats one of the reasons its hard to win away from home.If you turn your back on your birth country you are going to get some abuse and if is going to affect there game good.

  • 10.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:47 am

    Hey Mike, u speaking from expereience, ie when Jonah Lomu steamrollered you at Newlands in ’95?

    That reminds me, the best banner I’ve ever seen was in the stands that day: “William Webb Ellis was the last Englishman to run with the ball”.

    Classique.

  • 11.Staal: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:51 am

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-8:

    Eish kom ek heel onskuldig hier aan oppie site en kry ek dit innie nek v jou kan af.

  • 12.Train: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 07:54 am

    I don’t think either Barritt or Botha went over to the UK to play for england. Unlike Rathbone who moved to Aus with the intent purpose of becoming a Wallaby.

    They are both great guys and play fir Saracens despite playing for England and being very proud if doing so they are also proud of their South African heritage.

  • 13.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 08:02 am

    Kopskoot Staal
    Ons almal weet jy is deel van die kamstige bulls elite
    Bewys my verkeerd.

  • 14.Tacitus: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 08:51 am

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-13:

    Why? That’s a huge compliment.

  • 15.Beast: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 09:46 am

    Mr. Catt, this tour will make Magersfontein and the seige of Mafekeng look like a sunday afternoon braai. I would like to officially welcome the POMS to hell. The biggest joy in life is to watch an Englishman bleed and get one back for the misary they caused!

  • 16.jondood: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 13:17 pm

    @Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-13:

    Still upset about that 2007 Super final?

    lol

    Loosen your thong, lad!!

  • 17.Saffex: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 22:31 pm

    Bloody wanker talks like he reckons he is a Pom, bloody traitor – average player who would not have smelt a Bok side

  • 18.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 22:51 pm

    @Saffex(Saffex)-17:

    Really?

    He is a world cup gold medal winner, 4 x 6 nations tournament winner, Heineken cup winner, 3 x English premier ship winner with Bath. And he was part of the 1997 British Lions team who beat the Boks in South Africa. It is pretty good for an average player don’t you agree?

    Traitor? The bloke had an English mother and left South Africa during the time when the country was banned from International rugby.

    Do you also call the Beast a traitor?

  • 19.carol: Reply to this comment
    1 Jun 2012, 22:59 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-18:

    ;-)

    Good point……!

  • 20.seamus: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 04:28 am

    Mike, welcome to SA. We are thrilled to have you guys touring here. I’d like to apologize for any abuse you endured as a player and while their may be some vitriol directed at Brad and Mauritz, most SA fans hope we beat England, regardless of the team make up.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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