Post by Taxigirl on Nov 13, 2003 9:31:00 GMT
Mike Catt and Richard Hill are both in a full-strength England team to face France in the World Cup semi-final.
Catt has been selected at centre ahead of Mike Tindall to ease the pressure on fly-half Jonny Wilkinson.
And the presence of veteran flanker Hill is a massive boost as England look to improve their shaky form.
Jason Robinson moves to the wing as Josh Lewsey returns from injury at full-back, while Trevor Woodman replaces Jason Leonard at prop.
Catt has clinched a midfield place alongside Will Greenwood following his superb performance as a second-half substitute during the quarter-final victory over Wales last weekend.
Catt's performance also freed up Wilkinson, who had struggled to influence the game in the first half.
England coach Clive Woodward said: "It was straightforward really. You saw when he came on against Wales, he played outstandingly well. This is no gamble, you don't gamble in a World Cup semi-final.
"This is England's strongest team - all 30 players are fit, this is the first time on this tour."
Tindall, Catt's Bath team-mate, has been relegated to the bench as one of five changes.
Catt said: "Maybe there was a little bit of staleness there - maybe I can bring a bit of freshness.
"Hopefully I can take a little bit of heat off Wilkinson."
Woodward added: "He (Catt) has been playing very well. One of the key things about him is his ability to play at either first or second receiver.
"We want to get a little bit more width in our game. There's no doubt in my mind that Catt will have a major role to play."
Hill has missed the last four World Cup games because of a hamstring injury, but he is now fit to pack down alongside his long-time back-row colleagues Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio.
They will face a stern test from the highly-rated French back row.
"To have Hill, Dallaglio, Back come up against the French back row, it's going to be a great clash, and I know who I'd put my money on," Woodward said.
Also among the replacements are Moody, Kyran Bracken and Bath's Iain Balshaw.
Balshaw has been troubled by a sore knee, but he came through a fitness test yesterday, along with Lewsey, to feature in England's 22.
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England: J Lewsey; J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Catt, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; T Woodman, S Thompson, P Vickery; M Johnson (capt), Ben Kay; R Hill, N Back, L Dallaglio.
Replacements: D West, J Leonard, M Corry, L Moody, K Bracken, M Tindall, I Balshaw.