England were mad to kick Andy Farrell and Mike Catt into touch after the 2015 World Cup disappointment, according to their World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward.
Eddie Jones has already revealed he will leave his role at the end of the 2023 World Cup with Woodward seeing only one serious contender for the role currently.
“I have watched Ireland’s progress since their disappointing 2019 World Cup with mixed emotions,” wrote Woodward.
“I’ve loved their exciting, fluid, high-tempo approach but as an English fan, I wish Andy Farrell and Mike Catt were still at the heart of the England set-up.
They paid the price for their part in England’s disappointing 2015 World Cup. Stuart Lancaster was rightly replaced but it was ridiculous to boot out his assistants as well.
“Ireland placed faith in him after the World Cup and Farrell was intent on unleashing his version of union which borrows heavily on the skills, high-tempo, fitness and power of those great Wigan rugby league sides.
“Ireland are now playing a similar style to Farrell’s Wigan – fast, no-nonsense, consistent, skilful, with X-factor players when required.”
TRENDING STORIES:
- England team to play Ireland: 2022 Six Nations
- RANKED: Mid-competition grades for every Six Nations team
- Wales team to play France: 2022 Six Nations
- Fastest players in 2022 Six Nations this year revealed
- RANKED: 5 of the biggest ‘cheats’ in Rugby
England next head coach odds (Oddschecker)
#5. Andy Farrell – 22/1
The irony with Farrell is that he is arguably the most obvious candidate and fits the role as well as anyone, but he might be the toughest for the RFU to land due to his long-term deal with Ireland.
