Mike Catt expects a tough South Africa tour – Rugby News Update
Mike Catt, the 40-year-old former England player and London Irish backs coach has warned his players ahead of the tour of South Africa, saying that it will be brutal and the atmosphere will be hostile.
Catt was appointed an interim backs coach of England for the tour of South Africa, where England plays a three-match test series, along with playing two other mid-week games. Catt is a South-African born England player, and he knows exactly what to expect
on such tours.
"You can't prepare for it. You have to feel it," said Catt. "Stuart Lancaster has been sending emails for the past three or four months saying 'prepare yourself, prepare yourself, prepare yourself."
Catt started his career with Bath Rugby and went on to make 75 appearances for England. He ended his career with the London Irish, and before the England job he was working at the club as a coach. He has toured South Africa twice in his career, once in 1994
and then again in 2000. He stated that winning on their soil was one of the highlights of his career. Rugby means a lot to the South African fans and they never want an English team to win on their turf, hence he rates the victory under Clive Woodward, the
former coach of England, as one of his highlights.
Speaking about the brutality of the tour he said, "I remember us going down in 2000 and we played the first Test and then we couldn't train until the Thursday because we were so physically battered by it. These guys are going to have to be mentally tough
and I think the environment we have created at the moment is going to put us into good stead."
He has also warned Mouritz Botha and Brad Barritt ahead of the tour, as both as South African born and play for England, much like Catt. The backs coach believes that these players will come under severe pressure due to their status from the crown, and they
have to take it in.
Catt is a World Cup winner for England and his experience will surely help his country on the tour.
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