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Last Updated: Tuesday, 8 June, 2004, 05:22 GMT 06:22 UK
Catt gets England call
England coach Sir Clive Woodward talks to the media in New Zealand
Full coverage of New Zealand v England on Five Live and this website, Saturday, 0835 BST
Mike Catt will start his first Test since the World Cup semi-final against France when England take on New Zealand in Dunedin on Saturday.

England coach Sir Clive Woodward named the 32-year-old at centre alongside returning fly-half Charlie Hodgson.

Gloucester's James Simpson-Daniel will start on the wing with Josh Lewsey moving to full-back in place of the rested Jason Robinson.

Chris Jones gets the nod at blindside flanker with Joe Worsley on the bench.

Catt has seen his season hampered by injuries, while he also failed to agree a new contract with Bath and will play for their Zurich Premiership rivals London Irish next term.

We need battle-hardened people down there in Dunedin
Clive Woodward

But Woodward has opted for his experience over centre rival Stuart Abbott, who has to settle for a place on the bench.

"Both the Wasps centres (Abbott and Fraser Waters) had a great end to the season, but with Charlie Hodgson starting his first real Test, we felt it was crucial that he has got some experience around him," said Woodward.

"Charlie has been unlucky with injuries, and he has been competing with Jonny Wilkinson, but he is fully fit now and this is the first real occasion when he has played with all the big guns."

Woodward has made seven changes, including one positional switch, from the side beaten 24-21 by France in the Six Nations Championship finale 10 weeks ago.

James Simpson-Daniel trains with England in Auckland
Simpson-Daniel starts on the wing
Lewsey was always the likely alternative full-back, where he featured last season for England, in Robinson's absence.

Simpson-Daniel, meanwhile, makes his first England start since a World Cup warm-up victory over Wales last August.

Hodgson is preferred to Bath's Olly Barkley, who started England's last two Six Nations games but now fails even to feature on the bench.

Scrum-half Matt Dawson, who has also been made vice-captain in the absence of Jonny Wilkinson and Phil Vickery, will be the back-up goalkicker.

Up front, Leicester tighthead Julian White takes over from the injured Vickery, while Premiership player of the season Simon Shaw partners Danny Grewcock in the second row.

"He (Shaw) has been one of the unluckiest players since I have been picking the England team," Woodward added.

"But he has now got his chance - he was the first second row we put down, based on current form - and this is a huge opportunity for him. He has got a chance to make the place his own."

Woodward has also opted for the extra line-out expertise of the athletic Jones, who edges out the unfortunate Worsley for the number six jersey.

Also among the replacements is Wasps wing Tom Voyce, who is in line for a second cap three years after his first, and Bath prop Matt Stevens, who will make his debut if he comes on.


England: J Lewsey (Wasps); J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), M Tindall (Bath), M Catt (London Irish), B Cohen (Northampton); C Hodgson (Sale), M Dawson (Northampton); T Woodman (Sale Sharks), S Thompson (Northampton), J White (Leicester), S Shaw (Wasps), D Grewcock (Bath), C Jones (Sale Sharks), R Hill (Saracens), L Dallaglio (Wasps, capt).
Replacements: M Regan (Leeds), M Stevens (Bath), S Borthwick (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps), A Gomarsall (Gloucester), S Abbott (Wasps), T Voyce (Wasps).



WATCH AND LISTEN
England coach Sir Clive Woodward
"It's going to be a tough match, like any game with New Zealand"


BBC Five Live's Ian Robertson
"England should pose plenty of problems for the All Blacks"



SEE ALSO
Shaw primed for NZ 'pain'
08 Jun 04  |  Internationals
Gibbes takes All Blacks bow
08 Jun 04  |  Internationals
Dallaglio wary of Smith
04 Jun 04  |  Internationals
Woodward plays down chances
04 Jun 04  |  Internationals
Hodgson eyes Test chance
03 Jun 04  |  Internationals
Dawson keeps his focus
01 Jun 04  |  Internationals


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