The age difference between England's centres is 15 years and there will be times when Mathew Tait lets Mike Catt know it. When Catt was playing in the 2003 World Cup final, Tait was watching on television in the sixth-form common room at Barnard Castle before the trip to Ampleforth with the school first XV - they won, too.

The value of the relationship, though, is enormous. Tait, at 21, has had to endure some of the demons that Catt has exorcised, but he may come to regard the past fortnight as a masterclass in midfield play. Take his debut international against Wales two years ago when Gavin Henson caught him with a couple of highlight-reel tackles. Catt may compare that with being run over by Jonah Lomu in the 1995 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand, or the jeers of a Twickenham crowd, or the times when he had apparently seen the last of his international career. “Mat's a hell of a talent,” Catt said this week. “He has been dealt a couple of cruel blows, but he's matured massively as a player - he's the future of English rugby.”

That is a load on slim shoulders, but Catt would not place it there if he did not believe that Tait could carry the burden. “There's no point in bulls***ting. Mike tells it how it is if he wants you to do something different, but if he's a bit brash, he's doing it for your benefit,” Tait said. “I'll ask him why sometimes - you have to challenge him if you disagree - but most of the time he tends to be right.”

Tait has had his moments, but so far they have been on the sevens circuit - a silver medal in the Commonwealth Games, winning in Hong Kong, but nothing compared with what South Africa have in store.

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He has been prepared by the physical nature of the past four matches of the World Cup, the ones that have carried England clear of the ignominy of that impotent start, when Tait was a late replacement against the United States and South Africa in the first two pool games. If England have not been as expansive as he would like, he will cheerfully tackle for 80 minutes if it means victory.

“They're obviously pleased with me at outside centre,” Tait said of the coaching staff, who have retained him there rather than shunting him out to the wing. “Defensively, against France last weekend, I felt I coped reasonably well.” So he did, although that element of his game is not why Andy Robinson, the former England head coach, described him last year as England's No13 for the long term.

It is Tait's glaring acceleration and swerve that catch the eye rather than the weight of his tackles, qualities that England are so frequently accused of lacking. In that respect he is the market leader, along with Toby Flood, his Newcastle Falcons colleague, on the bench. They represent a new generation of England players, so many of whom are backs oozing with skill and speed, who will be contesting places in the World Cup squad of 2011 in New Zealand.

Not that Tait will regard himself as a role model tomorrow when it comes time to exit his hotel room. He enjoys relaxing, with a book or listening to music, to the sound of running water; but a dry ground and a fast track at the Stade de France will suit him just fine as he and Catt make their last bow as a partnership.