'we’re gutted for him because he thoroughly deserved his starting place'
The news that Andy Farrell has pulled his calf and is out of the Australia game is a big blow and we're gutted for him because he thoroughly deserved his starting place after the way he's performed over the last two weeks. His distribution is very good and we haven't seen the best out of him yet. He played very well against Tonga and he was going to play a big defensive role.
Listen to Mike talk about the Australia game
A day is a long time in rugby!
Brian told me on Wednesday that if Andy failed his fitness scan I would be involved and we also know Olly had a dead leg, so I'm pleased to be back in the fray but gutted for the boys. A day in rugby union is a very long time! I've been disappointed I haven't had another run because we've changed the way we're playing completely since the South Africa game. The way we're playing now is the way I want to play and it suits my style of play so I'm relishing the opportunity to play against Australia again.
Barring the injuries, it's been a very good week of preparation for the big quarter final. Phil Vickery has come back in, which is a tough call on Matt Stevens because he's played exceptionally well. But from my perspective, Matt is more of an impact player than Phil so if Phil holds out for 50 minutes and Matt then comes on, he can cause some damage. Getting that balance right is vital. I know he'll be gutted he's not starting but Matt Stevens is young and enthusiastic and the kind of guy who will be happy to do whatever job needs be.
Jason Robinson sailed through his four training sessions without any trouble at all and seems to be fine. To be honest, I didn't think he'd be back this quickly with a grade two tear but we'll see as a match situation is completely different to training.
Australia can carve up any side
As for Australia, knowing what Foley and Connolly are like, Australia will be a very well drilled side and they'll know exactly where they want to attack and they're very clinical. Their scrummage has got a hell of a lot better over the past year and the guys have played a lot of rugby together. Obviously the new 10 Barnes has come on the scene but he has a hell of a lot of experience in Gitau, Mortlock, Gregan, Larkham and Latham around him. They have some fantastic players so it's a formidable side and if they get good ball, they can carve up any side. We're going to have to be defensively astute in what we do.
We want to play the game in the right parts of the pitch but in the same breath they do drop their back three, Tuquiri, Latham and Mitchell back a hell of a lot so there's not much to kick to. But we have a few plans of where we can go to and hopefully bring them up and kick them back if we have to.
This is the quarter finals of a World Cup now so there's no excuse in missing simple tackles like we did against Tonga. To be fair, Samoa and Tonga are the two most physical sides in the competition with big guys like Epi Taione at 125kgs in the centre.
We can beat these guys
Australia are justifiably the favourites. We haven't played exceptionally well but we've got through whereas Australia are one of the top three form sides of the moment and rightly so. But this is a quarter final and anything can happen. We've been building steadily and in the back of our minds we know we can beat these guys. It's a matter of whether we've done enough preparation and whether we have the mental aptitude to take these guys on and I believe we have. It's a one-off game, so who knows!
Enjoy the game,
Mike Catt.
4th October 2007
