As England gears up for their monumental clash against the All Blacks at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, former England coach Clive Woodward has put forward three crucial selection changes he believes are necessary for victory. Under the guidance of Steve Borthwick, England has been tearing up the field with a nine-game winning streak, including significant wins over Australia and Fiji. However, the upcoming game against a formidable New Zealand team, which is eyeing a grand slam after triumphs over Ireland and Scotland, is set to be the ultimate test of their mettle this Autumn Nations Series.
Woodward, who led England to glory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, remains optimistic about the team's current form but suggests strategic tweaks to enhance their chances against the All Blacks. In his column for the Daily Mail, he expressed his concerns about recent lineup changes made by Borthwick.
"I do wish Borthwick, as coach, had kept faith with the side that started against Australia. Although England won again, I’m not sure how much they learned,"
Woodward wrote.
One key alteration he advocates for is the reinstatement of George Ford at fly-half over Fin Smith, who Woodward felt was subdued in his recent outings. Additionally, he is critical of England's centre pairing and suggests a reshuffle here could prove crucial. Woodward proposed that Tommy Freeman should be relocated to his usual No.13 slot, enhancing midfield stability and potency.
The return of Freddie Steward at full-back was another change Woodward highlighted, emphasizing the need to solidify the starting XV to build a World Cup-winning team. He expressed skepticism about the heavy reliance on bench players, stating,
"As good as the replacements have been in the last two games, I’m not convinced by all this focus on the bench and international rugby being a 23-man game."
Despite these concerns, Woodward sees a vulnerability in the All Blacks that England could exploit, especially with the absence of Jordie Barrett, a key player for New Zealand. "England can beat New Zealand. As much as midfield remains a conundrum for England to solve, the All Blacks aren’t at 100 per cent in that area either," he optimistically noted, highlighting an area where England could gain an upper hand in the impending showdown.
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As England gears up for their monumental clash against the All Blacks at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, former England coach Clive Woodward has put forward three crucial selection changes he believes are necessary for victory. Under the guidance of Steve Borthwick, England has been tearing up the field with a nine-game winning streak, including significant wins over Australia and Fiji. However, the upcoming game against a formidable New Zealand team, which is eyeing a grand slam after triumphs over Ireland and Scotland, is set to be the ultimate test of their mettle this Autumn Nations Series.
Woodward, who led England to glory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup, remains optimistic about the team's current form but suggests strategic tweaks to enhance their chances against the All Blacks. In his column for the Daily Mail, he expressed his concerns about recent lineup changes made by Borthwick.
"I do wish Borthwick, as coach, had kept faith with the side that started against Australia. Although England won again, I’m not sure how much they learned,"
Woodward wrote.One key alteration he advocates for is the reinstatement of George Ford at fly-half over Fin Smith, who Woodward felt was subdued in his recent outings. Additionally, he is critical of England's centre pairing and suggests a reshuffle here could prove crucial. Woodward proposed that Tommy Freeman should be relocated to his usual No.13 slot, enhancing midfield stability and potency.
The return of Freddie Steward at full-back was another change Woodward highlighted, emphasizing the need to solidify the starting XV to build a World Cup-winning team. He expressed skepticism about the heavy reliance on bench players, stating,
"As good as the replacements have been in the last two games, I’m not convinced by all this focus on the bench and international rugby being a 23-man game."
Despite these concerns, Woodward sees a vulnerability in the All Blacks that England could exploit, especially with the absence of Jordie Barrett, a key player for New Zealand. "England can beat New Zealand. As much as midfield remains a conundrum for England to solve, the All Blacks aren’t at 100 per cent in that area either," he optimistically noted, highlighting an area where England could gain an upper hand in the impending showdown.