"Totally ridiculous" - Sir Clive Woodward picks the England XV Eddie Jones should have selected

Friday, 08 July 2022 at 17:45

byRugby Rucker

Sir Clive Woodward has blasted Eddie Jones' latest England selection ahead of the second test against Australia tomorrow.

The World Cup-winning coach believes 'it's RIDICULOUS' to be looking to the World Cup already and not simply to the next game

"This is not an England team who will strike fear into the best sides in the world. On the face of it, there doesn’t appear to be any structure or method to the selection," wrote Woodward.

"One moment the back-line is about Joe Marchant and Joe Cokanasiga. The next, they’re nowhere to be seen and dropped for Porter and Freeman.

"The way the team is selected is all over the place. I wonder what the players are making of the selection merry-go-round. Jones has more than 30 players in Australia and this will not be a happy group.

'What is Danny Care thinking? He had four years in the wilderness, started the defeat in Perth, and has now been dropped.'

READ SIR CLIVE WOODWARD'S FULL COLUMN HERE

WOODWARD'S ENGLAND XV

BACK-THREE:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14. Jonny May (Gloucester)
11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath)

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. Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
12. Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers)

Joe Cokanasiga of England talks with Joe Marchant of England after the Summer International match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on the 24th August 2019. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK.

HALFBACKS:

10. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins)

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

FRONT-ROW:

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
3. Will Stuart (Bath)

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)

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. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath)
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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