Catt will start at fly half
VERSAILLES, 13 September – England head coach Brian Ashton has confirmed 71-Test veteran Mike Catt will wear the number 10 jersey against South Africa in Friday’s Pool A encounter, despite earlier naming rugby league convert Andy Farrell at fly half.
At a press conference on Thursday, Ashton said the inside back pairing would swap positions throughout the match, but when questioned further revealed Catt would wear the fly half jersey at the Stade de France.
"I said they would be both playing as inside backs. It doesn't matter (who wears the jersey) does it? All right, Catt at 10, Farrell at 12," Ashton said.
Ashton had named Farrell at fly half on Wednesday after Olly Barkley (left hip abductor strain) joined Jonny Wilkinson (right lateral ankle ligament strain) in being declared unfit for selection.
IRB Rugby World Cup 2003 winner Catt said he was comfortable with the "chop and change" strategy, despite not having played a lot of rugby alongside Farrell.
"I think Faz (Farrell) and I are going to chop and change (between fly half and inside centre), and (so) as long as we're clear on what we're doing and understand what we're trying to do. Faz and I are just going to try and control the game," Catt said.
"Faz is there for his left foot, defensively he's very, very strong and he's got a good brain on him. Between the two of us we can control it and play in the right part of the pitch."
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