In his column for the Mail Online, Sir Clive Woodward has revealed the changes he’d make to the England team for their Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland this weekend.
Coach Eddie Jones blamed a slow start for England’s 24-17 defeat by France in their opening Six Nations game.
But World Cup-winning coach Woodward wants wholesale changes.
SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: England's magic and confidence has been dismantled… I saw France loss coming https://t.co/YyclmXDWly pic.twitter.com/Q8DmDoMi5k
— SportsGridUK (@Sportsgriduk) February 2, 2020
“The experiment of playing Tom Curry at No 8 and Courtney Lawes at six just didn’t work,” wrote Woodward.
“Alex Dombrandt, who should have been in the squad from the off, needs to come in for the Scotland game as a starter and Curry must return to his normal spot at blindside with Lawes on the bench.
“The stronger scrummaging Luke Cowan-Dickie should probably start ahead of Jamie George, who looked flat, and England need George Kruis alongside Maro Itoje in the second row.
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“Ellis Genge is another who has earned a start at Murrayfield. He really did bring some intensity to proceedings.
“Owen Farrell endured the worst game I have seen him produce for England but I would back him to come good and, indeed, I would move him to 10, which means a slot at outside centre for Jonathan Joseph.”
Woodward’s England XV: Watson, May, Joseph, Devoto, Daly, Farrell, Youngs; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Itoje, Kruis, Curry, Underhill, Dombrandt