"He has no right..." - Sir Clive Woodward slams Eddie Jones latest comments

Tuesday, 09 August 2022 at 07:33

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byRugby Rucker

Sir Clive Woodward has slammed Eddie Jones after the current England boss Eddie Jones slammed private schools and suggested the whole system needed 'blowing up'.

The Aussie suggested that the current system produces players who lack the resolve and the skill to take the England national team to a higher level.

"I gave myself 24 hours before I looked to respond to Eddie Jones’s divisive and disrespectful comments on English rugby’s private school system," wrote Woodward.

"To be perfectly honest, in that time I expected the Rugby Football Union to come out and say something. But, as usual, we heard nothing from the head honchos at Twickenham."

He added: "Why does Jones have the right to belittle the English game like that? When nobody from the RFU — such as the chief executive Bill Sweeney — responds, then you can only assume that the powers that be at Twickenham actually think the same as Jones.

"It is either that, or they do disagree but opt for a quieter life rather than holding their head coach to account. Both demonstrate a fundamental failure of leadership."

Read Woodward's full column for the Mail Online here.

How England would line-up under Sir Clive Woodward

Below, Sir Clive Woodward reveals the 'exciting' England team he would pick with Marcus Smith dropped from the XV.

The team has been put together using the World Cup-winning coaches recent columns for the Mail Online.

BACK-THREE:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14. Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons)
11. Henry Arundell (London Irish)

"England have players like Adam Radwan available but he is not even on the tour. England do have players with pace, but Jones doesn’t use them," wrote Woodward.

"Arundell showed he is good enough to start by beating three defenders to score with his first touch in international rugby.

Freddie Steward of England goes over for a try during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK

CENTRES:

13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)

Manu Tuilagi of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

HALFBACKS:

10. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

“Smith’s day will come, but is he the best at the moment?” wrote Woodward.

“We have Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell at 10 and for me it is either/or, but not together under any circumstances.

“They are both ‘podium’ No 10s but Farrell is not a 12. If the World Cup was this weekend I would have no hesitation in starting Owen at 10 and as captain and cannot understand how he attracts so much flak.

“We seem to take comfort in the number of good players we have but it is not numbers, it is world-class players in your starting XV that counts.

“Farrell also excelled. I thought he was excellent in Sydney up against the giant Kerevi, who had a brilliant game. Kerevi is a fearsome opponent, but Farrell matched him and never took a backward step.”

Owen Farrell (c) of the Saracens during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bath Rugby and Saracens at the Recreation Ground on 17 Oct. Photo: Steve Haag/PPAUK

“In the build-up to the third Test, I made it clear I could not understand why Jack van Poortvliet had been dropped to the bench after such an impressive display the previous week,” wrote Woodward.

“It was a massive error. Care had a really poor half an hour, but Jones realised he had made a mistake and rectified it quickly. It takes guts to do that and his move paid off. Van Poortvliet made a huge difference when he came on.”

“I feel sorry for Danny. It is tough on any player when they are hooked out of the game so early and not for an injury or tactical reasons.

“But in Test rugby there can be no room for sentiment. I’ll repeat – it was the right call to replace him.”

FRONT-ROW:

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bath)

Woodward wrote: "Genge is world class. The way he powered through Samu Kerevi on Saturday and did the same to Michael Hooper in the second Test was hugely impressive. Both were huge moments."

Ellis Genge of England Rugby is tackled by Will Rowlands of Wales during the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK

SECOND-ROW:

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Woodward wrote: "There is just not enough pace in this England side, which is highlighted by Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes. Both should be in the starting team but at fly-half and second row respectively. Doing that would allow for players with the extra pace England are lacking."

Maro Itoje of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

BACK-ROW:

6. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Billy Vunipola of Saracens on the break during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final Match between Leicester Tigers and Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on 18 June 2022. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

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