Dawson given kicking duties

Clive Woodward promoted Matt Dawson to be England's goal-kicker against South Africa on Saturday and then asked: "Who else is…

Clive Woodward promoted Matt Dawson to be England's goal-kicker against South Africa on Saturday and then asked: "Who else is there?"

Dawson takes over the most important role in a Test team in the absence of his Northampton club-mate Paul Grayson.

A strained knee keeps Grayson out of the clash with the world champions while Mike Catt, who replaced Grayson as out-half and goal-kicker against Australia last weekend, is ordered to concentrate only on the pivot role.

Coach Woodward is forced into a second injury change, with Nick Beal coming in at full-back for concussed Matt Perry, while Austin Healey is dropped from the wing after "three poor games" to let Dan Luger return.

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Dawson is a part-time kicker - and Woodward admits that - but he said: "I can't pluck great goal-kickers out of nowhere. Matt is a fine goal-kicker and I am confident in his ability.

"With Paul injured and the necessity of Mike dedicating himself to the out-half job, there was only one guy I could bring in and that was Jonny Wilkinson - but he is injured.

"Matt, nevertheless, is a serious kicker. I have seen him kick six out of six for Northampton. He is a better option than Catt this weekend."

Meanwhile, South African coach Nick Mallett last night played down the Springboks' world record attempt, and declared: "Beating England means everything."

Mallett's team will create a new world best of 18 successive Test victories if they overcome England at Twickenham on Saturday, surpassing New Zealand's record that has stood since 1969.

But all that Mallett and his players are thinking of is sending England packing, treating whatever comes on top of that as a bonus.

"The world record is not as important as beating England," said Mallett, who yesterday announced an unchanged line up for the third Test in succession.

"We cannot afford to lose any game, and we will not class this as a successful tour if we don't beat England. A world record and the Grand Slam is just an addendum to winning this game."

England: N Beal (Northampton); T Underwood (Newcastle), P de Glanville (Bath), J Guscott (Bath), D Luger (Harlequins); M Catt (Bath), M Dawson (Northampton); R Hill (Saracens), N Back (Leicester), L Dallaglio (Wasps capt), T Rodber (Northampton), M Johnson (Leicester), D Garforth (Leicester), R Cockerill (Leicester), J Leonard (Harlequins).

Replacements: D Rees (Sale), A King (Wasps), A Healey (Leicester), M Corry (Leicester), D Grewcock (Saracens), G Rowntree (Leicester), P Greening (Sale).

South Africa(West); S Terblanche (Boland Cavaliers), A Snyman (Blue Bulls), C Stewart (Western Province), P Rossouw (Western Province); H Honiball (Natal Sharks), J van der Westhuizen (Blue Bulls); R Kempson (Natal Sharks), J Dalton (Golden Lions), A Garvey (Natal Sharks), K Otto (Blue Bulls), M Andrews (Natal Sharks), J Erasmus (Free State), B Skinstad (Western Province), G Teichmann (Natal Sharks, capt).

Replacements: G du Toit (Griqualand West), F Smith (Blue Bulls), W Swanepoel (Free State), C Krige (Western Province), A Venter (Free State Cheetahs), O Le Roux (Natal Sharks), N Drotske (Free State).