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Catt backs Richards for England | Catt backs Richards for England |
(about 18 hours later) | |
World Cup-winning centre Mike Catt believes Dean Richards should replace Andy Robinson as England's head coach. | World Cup-winning centre Mike Catt believes Dean Richards should replace Andy Robinson as England's head coach. |
The England international says the Harlequins boss, who guided Leicester to two European and four Premiership titles, should become team manager. | The England international says the Harlequins boss, who guided Leicester to two European and four Premiership titles, should become team manager. |
"With his record he is probably the best guy," Catt told BBC London. "He did an exceptional job at Leicester. | "With his record he is probably the best guy," Catt told BBC London. "He did an exceptional job at Leicester. |
"I would let Brian Ashton and the other coaches run the on-field stuff and let Dean manage off-the-field matters." | "I would let Brian Ashton and the other coaches run the on-field stuff and let Dean manage off-the-field matters." |
Interview: England international Mike Catt | Interview: England international Mike Catt |
Richards, 43, won 48 caps for England, six Lions caps as well as making 314 appearances for Leicester. | |
The number eight moved into management at Welford Road and led Leicester to four consecutive domestic league titles (1999-2002) as well to back-to-back victories in the Heineken Cup (2001 and 2002). | The number eight moved into management at Welford Road and led Leicester to four consecutive domestic league titles (1999-2002) as well to back-to-back victories in the Heineken Cup (2001 and 2002). |
Dean has a strong vision of where he would like to take the team Former England coach Jeff Probyn | Dean has a strong vision of where he would like to take the team Former England coach Jeff Probyn |
But after 23 years as a player and coach, Richards was sacked in February 2004 after a dip in results. | But after 23 years as a player and coach, Richards was sacked in February 2004 after a dip in results. |
He moved to French side Grenoble for a season before joining Harlequins in 2005 following their relegation to Division One and guided them back to the Premiership in his first season. | He moved to French side Grenoble for a season before joining Harlequins in 2005 following their relegation to Division One and guided them back to the Premiership in his first season. |
And former England prop Jeff Probyn says Richards is the ideal man for the job. | And former England prop Jeff Probyn says Richards is the ideal man for the job. |
"England need a manager, not a head coach," said Probyn. "The argument is what is a head coach? It was a title invented by Sir Clive Woodward who never really coached anyone. | "England need a manager, not a head coach," said Probyn. "The argument is what is a head coach? It was a title invented by Sir Clive Woodward who never really coached anyone. |
"Dean Richards should be appointed England manager. | "Dean Richards should be appointed England manager. |
"For the England team you want the best man for the job and that's Dean. He has a proven track record of working with John Wells (England forwards coach). | "For the England team you want the best man for the job and that's Dean. He has a proven track record of working with John Wells (England forwards coach). |
"Dean has a strong vision of where he would like to take the team. | "Dean has a strong vision of where he would like to take the team. |
"He's respected by all the players, all of the management and clubs and wants what's best for England." | "He's respected by all the players, all of the management and clubs and wants what's best for England." |
Richards, along with former England skipper Martin Johnson, New Zealander Warren Gatland and South African Nick Mallett, have all been linked with the role following Robinson's departure on Wednesday. | Richards, along with former England skipper Martin Johnson, New Zealander Warren Gatland and South African Nick Mallett, have all been linked with the role following Robinson's departure on Wednesday. |
606 DEBATE: Do you agree with Catt? | 606 DEBATE: Do you agree with Catt? |
But Catt, who is in England's Elite Player Squad and toured Australia in the summer, says the new man must English. | But Catt, who is in England's Elite Player Squad and toured Australia in the summer, says the new man must English. |
"I would not like to see a foreigner come in," he added. | "I would not like to see a foreigner come in," he added. |
"Warren Gatland is a fantastic coach and has done fantastic things with Wasps but I do believe England have good enough managers and coaches to stick to their own. | "Warren Gatland is a fantastic coach and has done fantastic things with Wasps but I do believe England have good enough managers and coaches to stick to their own. |
"They don't need outside influences." | "They don't need outside influences." |
And Catt, currently playing some of his best rugby with London Irish, says that the Rugby Football Union should utilise the knowledge and experience of England's World Cup winning squad. | And Catt, currently playing some of his best rugby with London Irish, says that the Rugby Football Union should utilise the knowledge and experience of England's World Cup winning squad. |
"There is a lot of experience and talent that has come through England ranks that has not been tapped into yet," he said. | "There is a lot of experience and talent that has come through England ranks that has not been tapped into yet," he said. |
Catt plays down World Cup hopes | Catt plays down World Cup hopes |
"They do need to get some players involved although I am not sure how they would go about doing that. | "They do need to get some players involved although I am not sure how they would go about doing that. |
"People like Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood and myself were all very good players but what are we like coaching? | "People like Matt Dawson, Will Greenwood and myself were all very good players but what are we like coaching? |
"We don't know that until we have experienced it. | "We don't know that until we have experienced it. |
"It is the same with Martin Johnson. He has a lot of respect, which is a start, but at the end of the day if you are not very good at what you do you soon get found out." | "It is the same with Martin Johnson. He has a lot of respect, which is a start, but at the end of the day if you are not very good at what you do you soon get found out." |