World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has slammed Eddie Jones’ England selection for their crucial 2020 Six Nations match against Ireland at Twickenham on Sunday.
“So here we go again,” wrote Woodward in his latest column for the Mail Online.
Your England side to face Ireland on Sunday at Twickenham 🌹 #WearTheRose @O2sports
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) February 21, 2020
“Courtney Lawes is not a Test No 6, and although I can understand the temptation to pick a lineout man in the back row to combat Peter O’Mahony, who wins a lot of ball for Ireland, that is showing too much respect to the opposition and not concentrating enough on how England intend to go about their business.
“Meanwhile, we still have one of the world’s great flankers in Tom Curry at No 8 and now we have Jonathan Joseph, a specialist outside centre, on the wing when Ollie Thorley is fit and available.
“Manu Tuilagi is at 13 when I would much prefer him to be playing 12 with skipper Owen Farrell at 10. It is all very confusing.
“Once again I must stress that selection is the No 1 skill of an international coach and I just hope all these players can adapt to the new position or system”.
MEET THE ENGLAND TEAM vs Ireland
15. Elliot Daly
- Age | 27
- Caps | 41
- Club | Saracens
- Salary | Unknown
- Partner | Michelle Cussell – The fullback met his gorgeous girlfriend when he was still at school. The pair met at the £18,618-a-year Whitgift School for boys in Croydon, south London, where Daly, 28, was a pupil and she worked as a sports events organiser – although they were both 18 at the time.
- Nickname | Briefcase – He got his nickname after turned up at his first Wasps training session in his Whitgift school uniform and carrying you know what!
14. Jonny May
- Age | 29
- Caps | 54
- Club | Leicester Tigers
- Salary | £325,000
- Partner | Sophie May – The blonde-haired fitness fanatic earns her living as a personal trainer, posting regular updates on the Girlsontopoffitness Instagram page.
13. Manu Tuilagi
- Age | 28
- Caps | 41
- Club | Leicester Tigers
- Salary | £550,000
- Partner | Chantelle Garrity
12. Owen Farrell
- Age | 28
- Caps | 81
- Club | Saracens
- Salary | £750,000
- Partner | Georgie Farrell – Despite him being one of England’s star men, Owen Farrell’s wife Georgie likes to keep her life extremely private.
- Nickname | Little Faz/Faz – Used to predominantly be Little Faz but now his Dad, Andy, has jetted off to work for Ireland he seems to have shaken that part of his nickname.
11. Jonathan Joseph
- Age |28
- Caps | 49
- Club |Bath Rugby