"Name new captain" - Sir Clive Woodward tells Eddie Jones to pick surprise new skipper

Wednesday, 19 January 2022 at 09:20

byRugby Rucker

Sir Clive Woodward has called for England head coach Eddie Jones to name Ellis Genge as captain for their Six Nations opener against Scotland.

The former boss was revealing his thoughts on the latest squad, which he was full of praise of.

"For the first time since England and I parted company, I must confess to being a little bit envious," wrote the 2003 World Cup winner in his column for the Mail Online.

"If England get it right they won’t just be getting the Twickenham faithful on their feet going nuts but the whole rugby world will be on their feet, too.

"The most significant stat I saw out there when this squad was announced is that 10 of the England matchday 23 that lost pretty tamely to Ireland in England’s last Six Nations game are gone — in many cases I suspect, permanently. That really is an admission of just how badly England got things wrong 12 months ago.

The Rugby Paper

@TheRugbyPaper

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Ellis Genge: I want to leave Tigers with the title therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/34…

8:00 AM · Jan 18, 2022

England Six Nations 2022 Fixtures

Saturday 5 February: Scotland v England (16:45)
Sunday 13 February: Italy v England (15:00)
Saturday 26 February: England v Wales (16:45)
Saturday 12 March: England v Ireland (16:45)
Saturday 19 March: France v England (20:00)

Sir Clive Woodward’s England XV for the 2022 Six Nations with new captain

BACK-THREE:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14. Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish)
11. Max Malins (Saracens)

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. Luke Northmore (Harlequins)

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

HALFBACKS:

10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Marcus Smith of England celebrates after winning during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

FRONT-ROW:

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers) - Captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)

Woodward said: "I see Genge and Sinckler like Trevor Woodman and Phil Vickery - they can run around, tackle and have real X-factor. I'd always have George in my team. He's a class act."

Ellis Genge of England celebrates after winning with his son Ragh Ellis during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Tonga at Twickenham Stoop on 6 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK

SECOND-ROW:

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

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. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)

Woodward said: "I'm very clear on my back row. Underhill and Curry, with Simmonds at 8. Simmonds is the most explosive and the fastest. I don't care who wears which number. You start with your best team. I like Dombrandt but he would be on the bench."