Mike Catt to work on attack – Rugby News Update
Mike Catt, the 40-year-old England backs coach had admitted that his team needs to do more from an attacking point of view, if they are to win against South Africa.
England is currently touring the southern hemisphere nation to play a three-match test series against the Springboks, while they will play two other midweek games on tour.
After losing the first game comprehensively 22 – 17 against South Africa, Catt is worried about the lack of attacking threat from his team. He said, "We will address it with the boys and let's make sure we don't put ourselves in those situations again. With
the attacking options we have got we would have liked to have had more ball in hand and I think that is something we have got to look at - why aren't they getting more ball."
England made changes to the formation, with Ben Foden moving to the wing, even though his regular position is at fullback. Lancaster took a strategic gamble, but in hindsight it did not pay off. There was a complete lack of understanding between fly-half
Owen Farrell and his centres, Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi.
However, Catt was not getting too worried about that, and has promised a better performance at Johannesburg for the second test, which is being played on the weekend. He said, "But the back three of Foden, Brown and Ash - it is the first time they have played
together. There will be more continuity next week. We can work on the things Browny and Fodes think we need to work on."
Catt singled out the second-half, where the South African forwards really made a push, and England was unable to get out of their half. The backs coach wants to work on that aspect and see an improvement for the rest of the tour.
Forwards coach, Graham Rowntree, took positives out of the game, and believes that the set-pieces were good, with Farrell converting penalties. He does believe that England needs to improve on the scrum, and give the Springboks more of a battle.
Lancaster was taking charge of his first test against South Africa, and he would hope his chargers put in a better performance in the next test.
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