South Africa have counted on stability in the centres in this world cup campaign, while for England there has been turmoil – and not much has changed for the final.
The injury to wing Josh Lewsey raises the possibility of 21-year-old Mathew Tait moving one out to take his spot. That could leave the door open for Dan Hipkiss to earn only his sixth cap, partnering Mike Catt in the middle, reports IRB.com.
Putting aside the 36-0 defeat by South Africa in the pool match, adapting at short notice has done England little harm. Jamie Noon, Andy Farrell and Olly Barkley have all played at 12 or 13 during their side’s march to the final.
South Africa, however, will feel an advantage in continuity. Jaque Fourie and Francois Steyn have started together in four of the Springboks’ six matches, with Wynand Olivier and Wayne Julies shoring up the space left by the injured Jean de Villiers.
Blood in, blood out
The inside centre match-up pits two stars – one on the rise, the other on the wane. Twenty-year-old Steyn, the 100kg Natal Sharks player, has weighed in with a try and nine points with the boot as deputy to Percy Montgomery in his six world cup matches.
Coming on for de Villiers in the opener against Samoa, Steyn was a revelation at 12 and has cemented the position after playing most of his career at full back.
Opposite rookie Steyn is Catt, England’s old soldier enjoying a glorious end to his career. A veteran of four world cups and a winner last time around, the 91kg Catt is neither the fastest nor biggest – but his kicking and distribution give England an extra string to their bow.
After a disappointing display at fly half against South Africa first time around, and having lost his place in the centre to Farrell or Barkley before they were injured, Catt will be looking to use the last of his nine lives to confirm his place in England legend.
Sting in the tail
With four tries at RWC 2007 and already a veteran of two world cups at the age of 24, Fourie is a powerful weapon at outside centre and the man ready to set up wing JP Pietersen down the right.
Nicknamed ‘Mossie’, as in mosquito, the 96kg Fourie’s enterprise and direct running could be the key to opening England’s defence.
Aside from the Tonga match, when Olivier and Julies were the centre pair, Fourie has started every match at this world cup.
Tait’s pace is one reason he is being touted for the wing role but that asset might be better deployed in the centre if Mark Cueto gets the nod out wide.
First pick at 13 since starting against Samoa, the 90kg Tait helped keep England in the tournament when he scored against Tonga in the final pool match. Coach Brian Ashton has faith in Tait’s vision and ability to slip through gaps.
Having also been touted as a full back, Tait’s versatility might mean Hipkiss takes his place in the centre. But after so much chopping and changing in the pool stages, Ashton might keep the tinkering to a minimum.
October 17th, 2007 at 9:17 am
I want to see Juan get the ball under his arm and target Catt. Just ran flat out straight at him. Just a pity that Spies is not there, because I would back him to go through Catt nine times out of ten.
October 17th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Catt is still a wiley campaigner, of that there is no doubt. Why not just get Frans to run straight at him, though? Should have enough momentum to at least cross the advantage line. A little pop to the mosquito finishes the damage
October 17th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Yes, thought of that. But Frans does have that slight tendency to lose the ball when he is bashing it up. Would prefer Juan as he older and quite frankly one of the hardest men I have seen play. Catt will get that Lomu’d feeling if it happens two or three times.
October 17th, 2007 at 9:41 am
Frans tends to lose the ball through getting isolated after a break and conceding a penalty for holding on. We need Juan to be on his shoulder to prevent that. Making the break is often the easy part
October 17th, 2007 at 9:46 am
Get JPP to wear one of those Sumo Wrestler suits and let him run at Catt.
Catt will just wave him on by in the direction of the poles.
October 17th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Comment by bokdylan© — October 17, 2007 @ 9:41 am
The 2 times that I saw that happen against Arg Frans had absolutly NO WAY of realeasing the ball as there were a few 100 Kg of Argentinian steak ontop of him.
Bad reffing imo they just dove over and made it impossible for him to place the ball.
Man the break downs on Sat are going to be HUGE, I just hope the ref is consistent in his policing of it.
October 17th, 2007 at 9:53 am
Wonder if he still has the stud marks on his back and chest
October 17th, 2007 at 9:55 am
The laws allow too much leeway, coffee. It inevitably becomes a lottery
October 17th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Frans makes breaks by running into half gaps. I am talking about someone running into a man deliberately. I may be wrong, but I just don’t think Catt likes that sort of thing ( understatement ) and he will soon be looking for somewhere to hide
October 17th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Fair enough. Bakkies or pk would also make good choices
October 17th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Just remember this is not the Catt of 1995….one tends to learn a thing or 2 after another 12 years of international rugby.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Sure, but IMO still the weakest link, by some margin
October 17th, 2007 at 10:20 am
That’s what I said above. He’s no fool, this boy, not after playing test rugby for as long as he has.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:22 am
They have a good defensive midfield anyway.
Wilko, Catt, Tait are all good defenders.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I think our backs are, to a man, more skillful than their English counterparts. Keeping the ball in hand is what’s required
October 17th, 2007 at 10:29 am
What Eddie Jones said about the team, they have an array of skills that lets them adapt the game as required.
Good at playing the grinding game, but also good at moving the ball and playing with pace and width.
I look forward to the game.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Nicknamed ‘Mossie’, as in mosquito
I always thought is was ‘Mossie’, as in sparrow.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:48 am
So did I actually.
October 17th, 2007 at 10:50 am
That’s what you get when foreigners write about your team though
Saying Mozzie is probably easier for them than saying Mossie
October 17th, 2007 at 10:51 am
I wonder if they think Butch is actually a very manly woman?