Catt wants to join Johnson
Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:27
England centre Mike Catt, who retired from international rugby only last year, has put his hand up to join his former World Cup-winning teammate Martin Johnson on the new look England coaching panel.
Johnson, confirmed as England's team manager on Wednesday, is to appoint an additional coach to join those in situ, expected to be a backs specialist.
Catt, 36, won 75 England caps before retiring after the 2007 World Cup, and is now player-coach at London Irish.
"I would love to work with 'Johnno', he's got a wealth of experience on the game," Catt told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"He was a fantastic rugby player and he's got the utmost respect from a lot of players and leaders in the game.
"When he says something, you do it, or you suffer the consequences. He knows exactly what he wants to achieve - and he makes sure it happens."
South Africa-born Catt was a key member of England's 2003 World Cup-winning squad in Australia under Johnson's captaincy.
He has helped London Irish reach the Heineken Cup semifinals this season, the first time they have made the knock-out stages.
Brian Ashton succeeded former Rugby League international Joe Lydon as England's backs/attack coach in April 2006.
But when Ashton stepped up to head coach in January 2007, he opted not to recruit an additional specialist.
Johnson's former Leicester and England teammate Austin Healey could also come into contention for the role, although has no senior coaching experience.
His former captain at Leicester, the former England skipper Martin Corry, endorsed Healey's credentials.
"There are very few, for me, who understand the game as well as he (Healey) can," said Corry. "He (Johnson) can choose a lot worse."
Northampton coach Jim Mallinder, who has worked with the RFU's National Academy and England Under-21 previously, has also been linked with the role of backs coach.
