Coaching legend Sir Clive Woodward has selected his England team to play Argentina in their 2023 Rugby World Cup opener.
The 2003 World Cup winner selected three players from outside of Steve Borthwick’s current 33-man squad, and also radically picked Freddie Steward at inside-centre.
Writing in his column for the Mail Online, Woodward stated: “It’s time for Steve Borthwick to bite the bullet and tear apart England’s World Cup squad after poor warm-up displays and bans.”
Check out his full selection below.
#BACK-THREE:
15. Anthony Watson (Unattached)
14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
11. Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Woodward wrote: “I’d have Henry Arundell and possibly Max Malins on the wings but I’d seriously consider either Adam Radwan or Cadan Murley instead of Malins from outside the current squad.”
#CENTRES:
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12. Fredie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Woodward wrote: “To get the most out of Smith, he needs a back line equal to his attacking talents and a licence to play. With this in mind, I would consider playing Freddie Steward at inside centre.
“Steward is a great defensive full back but England need a running threat there which is why I would play Anthony Watson. For too long England’s midfield thinking has been dominated by Manu Tuilagi.
“We need to get creative. Steward is strong defensively and he would do well in midfield.”
He added: “It was a big call to leave out Slade in the first place but the paucity of the side’s back line displays in the last three weeks has shown England badly miss his footballing ability.”