Catt calls for calm as critics sharpen claws

'We got the basics wrong, it is as dead simple as that'

England veteran Mike Catt offered a brutally honest assessment of England's latest demoralising defeat Down Under, but has asked fans to give the new coaching set-up a little time to impose a new structure on England's game-plan.

The London Irish centre's 11th appearance against Australia – an England record – ended in a predictable battering as the Wallabies followed up their 34-3 first Test victory by inflicting a six-try 43-18 drubbing on Andy Robinson's hapless world champions.

"International rugby is a lot harder than people expect, and when you come up against sides like Australia who are well-drilled and get as much turnover ball as they did, they are formidable," said 34-year-old World Cup winner Catt, who could conceivably have made his last Test appearance.

While Australia regained the Cook Cup, England could only reflect on a fifth successive defeat which saw them create an unwanted piece of history.

No previous reigning world champion has suffered such a dismal sequence of results, with England removing South Africa's four-game losing run in 1999 from the record books.

And it promises to become even tougher for England, who will reassemble in the autumn for Twickenham clashes with New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa. They face the Springboks twice.

While head coach Robinson continues to make positive noises about England's prospects of mounting a meaningful World Cup defence next year, reality suggests otherwise.

Several players rested from this summer's tour – key personnel such as Charlie Hodgson, Mark Cueto, Andrew Sheridan, Steve Thompson, Danny Grewcock and Martin Corry – should return for a punishing November schedule.

And there were flickers of hope provided during the past fortnight by relative newcomers Peter Richards, George Chuter and Mathew Tait, but those rare bright spots could not detract from a glaring fear that England appear to be going nowhere fast.

In their last five away appointments with Australia and New Zealand, they have conceded exactly 200 points, while scoring just 51, which illustrates how much the odds are currently stacked against them competing at the 2007 World Cup's business end.

"It is disappointing to lose the way we did, but it is even more disappointing the way we created chances but couldn't finish them off to keep us in the game," said Catt.

"We've only had two weeks together, but there are no excuses. We had a couple of opportunities we could have taken that perhaps might not have changed the game, but definitely put us up there with a shout.

"We had a lot of possession again [63%], and turned the ball over. Against a side like Australia, you cannot afford to do that.

"It's not nice. When you lose by 30 to 40 points, it is very hard for the youngsters to come in and develop because they feel as gutted as you do.

"There is not that stepping stone you desperately need for youngsters to get to international level."

But Catt has urged patience while Robinson's new coaching support staff of Brian Ashton, John Wells and Mike Ford settle into their roles after a tough baptism Down Under.

"What we need to do is maintain what we are doing," he said.

"It is the first time we've had the new coaches on board, and it is going to take time.

"What you hope for is a lot more than three or four players coming through, and I think that is the disappointing thing.

"It was just the basic stuff – catching, passing at the right time – and we got the basics wrong, it is as dead simple as that. We were hammered."

England played the second half at Telstra Dome without injured props Graham Rowntree (concussion) and Julian White (neck), forcing referee Steve Walsh to rule uncontested scrums.

Flank Joe Worsley moved up to prop, but Robinson insisted medical advice during the interval meant both Leicester forwards had to be replaced.

Such a farcical set-piece situation was matched by some of England's handling, while rookie wing Tom Varndell found himself man-marked into oblivion by opposite number Lote Tuqiri as the tourists conceded 27 turnovers.

"We didn't get directness in attack, and our poor execution let us down," said England attack coach Ashton.

"Tom Varndell received man and ball with Tuqiri around his neck from long cut-out passes, and there was no need for those 15-metre passes that we gave him.

"We have got to run much harder lines. A lot of those turnover balls, I suspect, came from us playing laterally rather than directly."

Tuqiri had his own incentive after Varndell produced a stunning piece of skill and pace to leave him for dead in Sydney, which was England's undoubted first Test highlight.

"I had to have Tom Varndell in my sights," said Tuqiri. "He stood me up last week, and I was a bit embarrassed. I wanted to assert my authority."

Australia ran in six tries through Tuqiri, Mark Gerrard (2), Mark Chisholm, Stephen Larkham and George Smith. All England could manage were consolation efforts from Chuter and Varndell, with fly-half Andy Goode booting a drop-goal, penalty and conversion.

There was even time during a disjointed second period for Wallabies scrum-half George Gregan to make a world record 120th Test appearance, eclipsing Jason Leonard's total in England and Lions colours.

While England headed home today, Australia began preparations to face Ireland in Perth next weekend, with coach John Connolly expecting a fierce examination from current Triple Crown holders.

"We will work hard for Ireland – they are a very stable side, and they won't give us anywhere near the opportunities England gave us," said the new Wallaby coach.

"We will have to turn up, because when Ireland are at full strength, they are a very good side."