With just one team from each of the four Championship pools qualifying for the semi-finals on June 18th, Nigel Redman’s side face Australia in the crunch winner-takes-all match knowing that victory would guarantee a place in the last four against either South Africa or Samoa in Cardiff.
For Bath Rugby’s Nathan Catt, the hugely impressive prop who has been a cornerstone of the England U20 scrum during both this Championship and the U20 Six Nations, Saturday’s fixture represents the biggest game of his blossoming career to date and with it an exciting, new challenge.
“The Australia match represents a massive challenge for us. The focus has always been on this match in the pool stages and there is a lot of confidence running through the squad at the moment after two victories and we are just looking forward to getting on with it,” said Catt.
Australia, like England, are one of the form sides of the Championship having amassed 131 points from their two opening matches and currently top the Pool C standings, but Catt insists that the best is yet to come from what he believes is a confident and extremely talented England U20 team.
“We are definitely playing some good rugby at the moment, and although we did not produce a performance over the full eighty minutes against Fiji and Canada, we have played well in the first forty in both matches and will be looking for more of the same on Saturday against Australia.”
Since Tuesday’s round two matches, Catt and his England teammates have been pouring over the footage of Australia’s opening matches, looking to find a chink in the green and gold armour and the young prop is confident that the fluid running game deployed by the Australian team can be matched.
“Australia have some very good half backs who run the show, and they also have some pace out wide which is a major strength, but hopefully we can counteract that with our defence, while providing the opportunity for our own quick backs to get some ball.”
For Catt, a veteran of the IRB U19 World Championship last year, the tournament has definitely been a step up in intensity from the Belfast event, and with many players already regularly featuring for their club, state or province, Catt believes that the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship will raise the bar in terms of international age grade competition, while also playing a major role in his personal development both on and off the field.
“With the Six Nations we knew the opposition inside out, but here it is completely different. It tests you as you have the opportunity to test yourself against the best players in the world in your position at this level.
“You can measure yourself and see where you do well and identify areas where perhaps you don’t do so well. It mentally toughens you as you have to play hard for all 80 minutes while you are also playing against some very big, powerful players. It is a great experience.”
The ‘in camp’ environment of an international Championship is also something that players at this level have to deal with mentally, as is the unique challenge of playing a match every four days. It can be a tiring process, but playing his matches just 60 miles from his club Bath Rugby, Catt can count on considerable personal support come match day.
“It is great that my family and friends can come and watch as Newport is close to Bath. They have been incredibly supportive, while I have been receiving lots of ‘good luck’ messages this week.”
Should Australia be toppled a semi-final lies in wait for Catt and his teammates, and although England could end up facing Samoa, a team they played at U19 level last year, Catt would love to have the opportunity to take on a much hailed South Africa side.
“Actually, I would like to play against South Africa as they are the only major international side that I have not played against,” he added.
The action kicks off at Rodney Parade at 2.30pm. Tickets start from just £2 and can be purchased at the gate.
Pool C, Rodney Parade, Newport – Saturday 14 June
2.30pm England v Australia
4.30pm Canada v Fiji
