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PARIS - England's surprise win over Australia in the rugby World Cup quarterfinals was merited, but veteran centre Mike Catt believes there's still room for improvement against France in Sunday's (NZT) semifinal.
The 36-year-old World Cup-winning back admitted that while they had played a much more expansive game against the Wallabies, England had perhaps tried to be too ambitious.
"Australia's back three didn't push up at all so we decided to run it which wasn't exactly the tactics the coaches and us had planned prior to the match," Catt said.
"We just got into the mood and ran them ragged but Saturday will be totally different. I think the present international game is all about possession but we like to run it out of our half.
"We have to get the balance better and we'll see how we go because it's the first time that we have done that (running the ball) for a while."
Catt, who is back in the side after being dropped after the record 0-36 World Cup loss to South Africa, said there had not been a problem with the tactics.
"A lot of teams have found it difficult when plan A hasn't worked, because plan B hasn't either and several of them didn't get out of their groups," Catt said.
He admitted things had been difficult after the South African rout.
"We always knew it would be a rough ride," Catt said.
"But we've shown great character, pulled together and turned things round with the victories over Samoa, Tonga and Australia."
Catt said that he believed that the team who lost to France in two leadup tests were vastly different to the one set to play this weekend.
"We understand what the French are about and we are playing totally differently to the teams that played in those games," the South African-born player said.
"We play into space and to our strengths."
Catt was not in the least bit worried that younger members of the team, such as Mathew Tait, would wilt under the pressure of a World Cup semifinal against their bitter rivals.
"It's just another game of rugby and the young guys won't be fazed by it.
"They have a lot of self belief and will relish taking on the French.
"All I would say to them is go out and play a good game and let's go to it."
- AFP
