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VERSAILLES - Mike Catt said he planned to "chop and change" with Andy Farrell in the key positions of outside-half and inside centre during champions England's crunch World Cup match against South Africa on Friday - despite it being the duo's first Test together.
Ever since fly-half Olly Barkley, England's man-of-the-match during their uninspiring 28-10 opening Pool A win against the USA in Lens last weekend, was ruled out of the Springboks clash with a hip muscle problem, there has been intense speculation on who will fill the No 10 shirt at the Stade de France.
Former England stand-off Rob Andrew, now the Rugby Football Union's elite rugby director, indicated on Wednesday it would be Farrell and not Catt, with 2003 World Cup-winning No 10 Jonny Wilkinson sidelined with an ankle problem.
But coach Brian Ashton has been trying his best to keep South Africa counterpart Jake White guessing.
Ashton, when pressed on the issue at England's hotel here Thursday, tetchily told a news conference: "I said they would be both playing as inside backs. It doesn't matter does it? All right, Catt at 10, Farrell at 12."
South Africa-born Catt, who has played in several different back positions for England during a 71-cap career but whose last start as a fly-half was eight years ago, said: "I think Faz (Farrell) and I are going to chop and change."
In an era where players are coached extensively, Catt said he and Farrell, who has made just six Test appearances, would have to rely on their innate rugby skills.
"From my point of view, it's an instinctive thing. I don't really think too much about rugby to be honest, if I do it falls apart," Catt, now playing for London Irish after making his name at Bath, explained.
"Faz has got his left foot, defensively he's very strong and he's got a good brain on him. Hopefully, between the two of us, we can control it and play in the right parts of the pitch."
Asked if they'd forged an understanding, Catt replied: "We haven't had time to do that unfortunately. We've had one team run and that's it. We are just going to have to pick each other up.
"You look at New Zealand, you look at Australia with (Matt) Giteau and (Stephen) Larkham, it is very much 10-12 who decide where we go and how you do it, left and right-footer with the help of a No 9 who gets his hands on the ball first.
"It's down to making the right decisions at the right times but it's not just down to one individual any more," Catt, 36 next week, added.
England have lost their last three Tests against South Africa, who began their World Cup campaign with a dominant 59-7 win against Samoa.
"We are massive underdogs but we'll give it a very good go," said Catt, a World Cup-winner four years ago.
"A lot of individual errors against America have got to be wiped out because if we do that against South Africa the (Bryan) Habanas of this world are going to destroy us."
Although Catt has kicked goals for England in the past, Farrell - prolific with the boot during his rugby league career but rarely required to kick since changing codes - is due to have that responsibility against the Springboks.
"Faz has done it all before. These big occasions haven't got to him in the past so I don't see why tomorrow (Friday) should either," Catt said.
Catt, questioned over whether Farrell had been copying Wilkinson's intense kicking practice routine, said: "Faz is 32 years of age, he doesn't do things like that, he's sensible."
- AFP
