Catt can't wait to get claws into French

Catt knows he was able to benefit from a situation that cried out for a hero to emerge from the ranks of white-shirted England players.

Not having been part of the most intensive build up to any England Cup campaign allowed Catt to express himself in a way that has seldom been seen in a Test career that started in 1994 against Wales.

He said: "I have no pressure on my shoulders and this is my third World Cup. I didn't have to deal with the pressure the other players have faced in the last six months.

"It was very calm in the dressing room at half-time because the players have been in this situation before, and I found it easier to deal with because I had been watching the first-half from the touch line.

"I could see what needed to be changed. We had been playing too much of the game in our own half and we needed to get down their end and create a few mistakes - and that got us some points. We have a lot to work on but we are in the semi-finals of the World Cup."

For Woodward, the real problem is where to start with Catt against France. With Wilkinson kicking so many points, he will remain in the outside-half role but the second half confirmed the view that he is finding the weight of expectation stifling at this tournament.

His control of the game is lacking authority and clarity, and that is why the contrast was so great when Catt arrived to call the shots. It was a return to days when Wilkinson first appeared on the scene and Catt was his right-hand man, offering advice on the pitch and another kicking option to get England deep into opposition territory.

"This was the first opportunity for some time that I have had the chance to take some of the pressure off Jonny," added Catt. "It's nice to know there is someone else out there to handle the pressure and luckily it worked in the second half."

With Will Greenwood expected to recover from the bang he took on the head and neck, Woodward looks like ly to move the Harlequins player to outsidecentre. That removes Mike Tindall from the equation. He is one of England's toughest tacklers and there is case for giving him a place on the wing, where he finished the game. England desperately need either Josh Lewsey or Iain Balshaw at full-back against France because Jason Robinson, despite one brilliant run, does not carry the same regular threat in the No15 jersey. Ben Cohen was also strangely quiet in a match that saw him outpaced by Welsh wings Shane Williams and Mark Jones.

England captain Martin Johnson missed the post-match press conference because he was lowering his bruised and battered body in an ice bath, and he appears to have a calf injury similar to the one dogging Matt Dawson, who made a number of sniping runs against the Welsh.

Woodward could not hide his frustration at the inadequate firsthalf-performance against Wales. "We were telling each other in the coaches' box to stay calm," he said. "Then something would happen and the water bottles would be flying everywhere.

"We did not play at our best and there were fundamental errors. We are going to have a clear-theair meeting this week to sort them out. We weren't thinking too cleverly in the first half and we are winning these games through sheer bloody-mindedness.

"However, if we play like that against France we will have no chance. France are clearly the redhot favourites but we will get it right and beat France on Sunday. They are the stand-out but they haven't played England yet."