Catt admits revent revival was sparked by South Africa defeat

It was the veteran centre's way of triggering a reaction from England's talisman and the response culminated in a trademark drop-goal to ensure a second successive World Cup final appearance as French dreams of glory ended in a 14-9 defeat.

With England attempting to become the first team to successfully defend the Webb Ellis Trophy, Catt (right) instinctively knew the cause was hopeless unless Wilkinson defied the home crowd, the intense expectation and the controversial tournament balls.

Catt said: "I told him before the game this was his time. "He hasn't performed that well in the last couple of weeks, but when the chips are down, the man stands up and he is incredible. He is absolutely brilliant and has done it again, but it's been a massive team effort."

For Catt, the last four weeks have seen him transformed from a figure of abuse after the 36-0 drubbing by South Africa to man of the match in the win over France. At 36-years-old he is now one final away from retiring from Test rugby - and what a way to go out.

He admitted: "Four weeks ago, I was here getting abused and now I am in a second World Cup Final. It's all brilliant, incredible and mind blowing. Quite honestly, we couldn't look each other in the eye after the South Africa defeat because it was so disappointing. We sat down ironed a few things out and here we are.

"It's about changing the mentality and there is no doubt that beating Australia in the quarter-finals gave us a massive boost and proved we can defeat the bigger sides.

"What changed was the way we were being coached, the way we wanted to play and we have ended up playing - the way we all enjoy." Head coach Brian Ashton agreed with Catt and openly admitted the loss to the Springboks affected the way he was dealing with the problems.

He explained: "That South Africa game came at the right time and gave us a massive kick up the backside and a wake up call to ensure we got our act together. In many ways, that is the defining moment, to date, of the tournament for us."

Catt knows the team isn't setting the rugby world alight with the "dogged" style of rugby on display, but the means justify the end as England are in the final and the really fancied teams are out - it's as simple as that.

"It wasn't much of a performance but it's good fun after all the crap we have gone through in recent weeks," added Catt. "It ranks right up there with 2003 in Australia because of all that we have gone through as a squad. You guys don't know half of it and it will come out in the wash along the line. We have dug in and who would have thought we would be in the final.

"To be honest, just three weeks ago I didn't expect us to be in this situation and while it feels brilliant, we haven't won anything yet. We have shocked the world and nobody expected us to be here. We will give it a good old lash now and see what happens."

While Catt may have dealt with this kind of World Cup euphoria before, it is a new experience for Harlequins' Nick Easter, who only made his six-nations debut this year.

The No8, who won praise for yet another combative performance in an England pack that never took a backward step, said: "Last week against Australia was just amazing and very special. This week when we did the lap of honour I kept on saying to myself 'let this sink in' and the other guys were telling me that it won't sink in for about four years!"

Joe Worsley, the London Wasps flanker, proved that England's replacements could match their French counterparts in making an impact off the bench and his try-saving tap-tackle on Vincent Clerc was crucial.

Worsley said: "I saw some of their guys over on the touchline and got on my bike - and I am glad I did - and I managed to get a bit of Vincent Clerc's ankle with a dive. Game's are won and lost on millimetres and that was a prime example."
He was absolutely right.