MIKE Catt received a twin boost yesterday. The Bath stand-off was
chosen for his country for the first time -- out of position at full
back -- for England's Five Nations Championship opener, against Ireland
in Dublin on January 21.
And he learned that Rugby Union president Dennis Easby did not expect
any emergency changes in the team.
Catt is the subject of an RU enquiry into his admission that he was
paid for playing as a 20-year-old in South Africa three years ago.
If found guilty of breaking international board regulations, Catt
would have to be banned.
But Easby said: ''I do not anticipate a change in selection after
Friday's RU executive committee meeting, which will consider Catt's
case.''
Manager Jack Rowell said that Catt had been picked on merit over Paul
Hull, who was England's full back in their four most recent Tests.
''Hull was considered fit for selection, though we don't know whether
he will be fit. But Catt displayed immense all-round skills as Hull's
deputy against Canada and we are confident that he will do well.''
With Bath and Leicester both having four players in the England side,
the clubs will be entitled to claim one player back for league duty this
weekend, while the rest of the England squad take a day off.
Rowell expects that Dean Richards will captain Leicester and that Catt
will play stand-off for Bath. Team:
M J Catt (Bath); T Underwood (Leicester), W D C Carling (Harlequins),
captain, J C Guscott (Bath), R Underwood (Leicester); C R Andrew
(Wasps), K P P Bracken (Bristol); J Leonard, B C Moore (both
Harlequins), V E Ubogu (Bath), M O Johnson (Leicester), M C Bayfield, T
A K Rodber (both Northampton), D Richards (Leicester), B B Clarke
(Bath).
Replacements -- J Callard, P R de Glanville (both Bath), C D Morris
(Orrell), S O Ojomoh, R G Dawe (both Bath), G C Rowntree (Leicester).
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