In a daring piece penned for the Daily Mail, Clive Woodward has thrown the gauntlet down for England's rugby selectors, advocating for the audacious inclusion of 19-year-old sensation Noah Caluori in the upcoming titanic clash with the Springboks at Ellis Park this July. Caluori, a remarkable talent from Saracens, has been turning heads with a startling 18 tries in just nine Premiership games.
"As a coach, sometimes you see something in a young player which makes you stop and go: 'Wow!'," remarked Woodward. His recommendation isn't just a shot in the dark; it's based on raw, undeniable talent, as evidenced by the youngster's recent performances. Woodward firmly believes that the only way to gauge Caluori’s potential at the international level is by throwing him into the deep end against one of the toughest opponents out there.
"There can be no doubt Caluori has been the breakthrough sensation… These are the sort of ‘wow’ moments… you simply cannot ignore."
Woodward's endorsement isn’t without precedent. He reflects on his decision to cap a young Jonny Wilkinson, a move that at the time was seen as controversial, yet undeniably shaped English rugby. "I gave an 18-year-old Wilkinson his Test debut… Was he ready to play internationally at that point? Probably not. But was it the right thing to do? Undoubtedly, yes."
The former England coach also suggests pairing Caluori with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wing, a combination he believes could deliver the dynamism needed to overpower the formidable South African team. Despite having other talented wingers like Tommy Freeman, Tom Roebuck, and Henry Arundell at their disposal, Woodward’s case for Caluori is compelling. "Some people would say… that would be brave, or even brainless. But as a coach, you have to be more pragmatic… looking at only the facts," he counters.
The rugby world will be eagerly watching to see if England’s selectors take Woodward's bold advice to heart and unleash Caluori on the grand stage, potentially sparking a thrilling new chapter in English rugby.
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In a daring piece penned for the Daily Mail, Clive Woodward has thrown the gauntlet down for England's rugby selectors, advocating for the audacious inclusion of 19-year-old sensation Noah Caluori in the upcoming titanic clash with the Springboks at Ellis Park this July. Caluori, a remarkable talent from Saracens, has been turning heads with a startling 18 tries in just nine Premiership games.
"As a coach, sometimes you see something in a young player which makes you stop and go: 'Wow!'," remarked Woodward. His recommendation isn't just a shot in the dark; it's based on raw, undeniable talent, as evidenced by the youngster's recent performances. Woodward firmly believes that the only way to gauge Caluori’s potential at the international level is by throwing him into the deep end against one of the toughest opponents out there.
"There can be no doubt Caluori has been the breakthrough sensation… These are the sort of ‘wow’ moments… you simply cannot ignore."
Woodward's endorsement isn’t without precedent. He reflects on his decision to cap a young Jonny Wilkinson, a move that at the time was seen as controversial, yet undeniably shaped English rugby. "I gave an 18-year-old Wilkinson his Test debut… Was he ready to play internationally at that point? Probably not. But was it the right thing to do? Undoubtedly, yes."
The former England coach also suggests pairing Caluori with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wing, a combination he believes could deliver the dynamism needed to overpower the formidable South African team. Despite having other talented wingers like Tommy Freeman, Tom Roebuck, and Henry Arundell at their disposal, Woodward’s case for Caluori is compelling. "Some people would say… that would be brave, or even brainless. But as a coach, you have to be more pragmatic… looking at only the facts," he counters.
The rugby world will be eagerly watching to see if England’s selectors take Woodward's bold advice to heart and unleash Caluori on the grand stage, potentially sparking a thrilling new chapter in English rugby.