Woodward warning over bore war

Mike Tindall: will start Saturday's final

Clive Woodward gambled today by changing a winning team and recalled hard tackling Mike Tindall for Saturday's Rugby World Cup Final.


But a clearly confident England coach then taunted Australia by insisting: "If you thought our win over France was boring, you ain't seen anything yet!"

By choosing Tindall over the more flamboyant Mike Catt, Woodward has made it clear that England will play the percentage game against the World Cup holders by defending strongly in midfield and chasing Jonny Wilkinson's high kicks.

It may not set the pulses racing, but it's a formula that has already beaten Australia four times in a row and this dominance over the reigning champions has got the local media clutching at straws.

Woodward said: "I get paid to win Test matches and we have won four in a row against Australia and I thought the French game was incredibly exciting. If you want us to play really boring rugby then we will. I guess the Australians have seen nothing yet.

"Really, all the stuff that is being written about us out here is pretty harmless. If you can't see the amusing side then you shouldn't come to this country if you are English. It's up to the English to give it back to them. I am sure the Aussies will take it like we take it."

Away from the sniping Woodward turned his attention to the biggest selection meeting of his career as head coach.

By choosing Tindall, he has accepted that Wilkinson will be more open to the attention of Wallaby flankers George Smith and Phil Waugh. In the previous matches against France and Wales, Catt had helped relieve the pressure on the England fly-half over kicking and distribution.

Woodward said: "It's horses for courses. Playing Australia, it is right to have Mike back. We are here to win this match - it is as simple as that. Tindall is a major part of our team and has been for some time. He fully understood why we made the change and Mike Catt is also brilliant in agreeing that this is the best way to go into this match.

"Catty was spot-on in his reaction. He has been very impressive, understands and agrees with the decision." Woodward also singled out the spirit in his 30-man squad, and especially the eight players who have missed out on selection. They are the guys you look to," he said. "If they react in the right way that shows the real strength of the team," said Woodward. "Of course they are shattered by being left out - it's a brutal business. It's black and white - you are either in the team or out of it."

Meanwhile, Australia made one change to their line up for the final, bringing in Ali Baxter at prop for the injured Ben Darwin.

England: J Lewsey (Wasps); J Robinson (Sale Sharks), W Greenwood (Harlequins), M Tindall (Bath), B Cohen (Northampton); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), M Dawson (Northampton); T Woodman (Gloucester), S Thompson (Northampton), P Vickery (Gloucester), M Johnson (Leicester, capt), B Kay (Leicester), R Hill (Saracens), N Back (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps).

Replacements: D West (Leicester), J Leonard (Harlequins), M Corry (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), K Bracken (Saracens), M Catt (Bath), I Balshaw (Bath).

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