England veteran Mike Catt believes his side will need to step it up another level for its semifinal against France this weekend.

The 36-year-old also admitted that while the English had attempted to play an expansive game against the Wallabies, they were perhaps a little too ambitious.

"Australia's back three didn't push up at all, so we decided to run it, which wasn't exactly the tactics the coaches and us had planned prior to the match," Catt told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"We just got into the mood and ran them ragged, but Saturday will be totally different. I think the present international game is all about possession, but we like to run it out of our half.

"We have to get the balance better and we'll see how we go because it's the first time that we have done that (running the ball) for a while."

The quarter-final clash against Australia was Catt’s first return to the side following his involvement in the 36-0 defeat to South Africa.

"We always knew it would be a rough ride. But we've shown great character, pulled together and turned things round with the victories over Samoa, Tonga and Australia.

"We understand what the French are about and we are playing totally differently to the teams that played in those games," he said.

"It's just another game of rugby and the young guys won't be fazed by it," Catt said.

"They have a lot of self-belief and will relish taking on the French. All I would say to them is go out and play a good game and let's go do it.