Catt admits to tough task

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Catt, 36 next Sunday, wears England's number 10 shirt for the first time since their 1999 Five Nations loss to Wales at Wembley after injuries to fly-halves Jonny Wilkinson and Olly Barkley mean England face their biggest game since the 2003 World Cup final with a new midfield partnership of Catt and ex-Great Britain rugby league skipper Andy Farrell.

South Africa-born Catt said: "We are all realistic, and it will be a massive ask, especially after the performances of the past three weeks. But it is international rugby, it is a World Cup pool game and it is against South Africa. So we are massive underdogs, but we will give it a very good go."

He added: "We haven't performed near what we are capable of. We've got a fantastic group of players, it is just down to whether we perform on the actual day. A lot of the individual errors against America last Saturday need to be wiped out because if we do that against South Africa, then the Habanas (Springboks wing Bryan Habana) of this world will destroy us.

"We need to pull together and make sure we understand what we are doing and where we're going."

Farrell will be the first-choice goalkicker, while England have also lost the services of suspended skipper Phil Vickery, with Leicester flanker Martin Corry taking over as captain.

An England victory would put them in pole position to top Pool A, but a defeat means they will require victory over Samoa in Nantes a week on Saturday or effectively face an humiliating early exit.

Corry claims England will "draw strength from adversity" when they go into battle as huge World Cup underdogs.

He said: "You want to draw strength from adversity, and we have had our share of adversity this week. It has drawn the squad closer together. We will take any motivation we can, and the ideal game for us is South Africa. Nine o'clock on Friday night can't come soon enough.

"We've had the rollickings after our performance against the USA last weekend, and we deserved them. We let our supporters, we let ourselves and we let the country down."