"That is not meant to be unduly pessimistic, just realistic after head coach Brian Ashton handed Mike Catt the midfield role at inside centre..." Frank Malley reports

The last time an England side battled for World Cup glory here the streets of the old port were drenched in tear gas following the infamous football riot of 1998.

Tomorrow the chances are it will all end in tears for England rugby.

That is not meant to be unduly pessimistic, just realistic after head coach Brian Ashton handed Mike Catt the midfield role at inside centre which has proved such a problem for England at this World Cup.

At 36 Catt, called in for the injured Andy Farrell, is either a man with huge experience or a geriatric in modern rugby terms depending on your point of view.

Mine is that it is Ashton's biggest gamble and one which could turn out to be his biggest mistake.

A World Cup quarter final is no place for creaking bones, slowed reactions and a man lacking the yard of pace in mind and body which once distinguished him as one of the most creative players in the game.

Catt's last contribution was against South Africa. Quite what Ashton saw in that 36-0 humiliation to justify Catt's inclusion against Australia, when he will face the class of Matt Giteau and Stirling Mortlock, is unclear.

True, it was a tough choice. Olly Barkley's defensive frailties were exposed by Tonga, Toby Flood has not played since he was flown out as a replacement for the injured Jamie Noon and Dan Hipkiss had put in just two cameo performances.

So Ashton's reasoning is not unsound but it is also conservative and World Cup quarter finals are not often won by timidity.

Not when faced with a side in Australia desperate to avenge the World Cup final defeat of 2003 and which currently is in a rich vein of form, sporting a pleasing balance of youth and experience. No wonder the expectation levels are a good deal lower than the muggy temperature here.

The main question on the lips of the England supporters strolling around the copious bars and restaurants and sharing good-natured banter with the Australians, South Africans and the odd Fijian is 'Will the real England turn up tomorrow?'

Will we see the formidable pack capable of dominating a rugby match? Will we see the magic of Jason Robinson, the lethal finishing of Paul Sackey, the feistiness of Josh Lewsey and, most of all, the playmaking nous and goal-kicking precision of Jonny Wilkinson?

Or will we see England, the holders of the Webb Ellis trophy so gloriously won by Martin Johnson and co, surrender their world crown in the same humiliating fashion they fell to South Africa in Paris three weeks ago?

All the talk at an England headquarters which at times has appeared tense and prickly this past week has been of the return of confidence and belief. Each player speaks of improvement.

The bottom line, however, is that England will have to find a performance stratospherically better than anything seen from them in France so far and have a following wind to boot if they are not to be flying home on Monday morning. Undoubtedly on paper England possess the better scrummage and parity in the
lineouts.

But if England fail to ``get in their faces,'' as Jason Robinson proclaimed, and fail to deliver faster ball than of late then Australia's superior midfield will prove decisive.

Much also depends on how 21-year-old Aussie fly half Berrick Barnes, in for the injured Stephen Larkham, copes with the biggest match of his life.

My hunch is that it will be closer than many expect, perhaps as close as five points. A match fuelled by the intense rivalry of two sports-mad nations. A match which will bring the best performance so far from an England side who have peddled so much disappointment.

Ultimately, however, the signs are that it will all end in tears.