Clive Woodward has thrown down the gauntlet, urging England's Steve Borthwick to shake things up for the upcoming clash with Ireland at Twickenham. It's time, he says, for Henry Pollock to start and for a fresh face at No 10 to light up England's attack after their recent stumble in the Six Nations against Scotland.
England's dreams of a Six Nations Grand Slam were dashed in Edinburgh last Saturday with a 31-20 defeat by Scotland, snapping their 12-match winning streak. Woodward, not one to mince words, expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance.
"After more in-depth analysis of England’s defeat by Scotland, I’ve come to the conclusion that the performance in Edinburgh was simply not acceptable,"
Woodward stated in his column for the Daily Mail.
The former World Cup-winning coach believes it's time for Borthwick to let Pollock shine from the starting whistle.
"I would 100% start him against Ireland. Henry Pollock is the man to be at the centre of it,"
Woodward advocated. Despite Pollock's rookie status with only seven caps, all off the bench, Woodward feels the young flanker's energy and drive are what England need to reignite their campaign.
Woodward didn't stop at just the forward pack. He also had some choice words about the flyhalf position, suggesting it was time for a strategic pivot. "It’s a big call on George Ford, but I would replace him with Fin Smith," he remarked. The rationale? While acknowledging Ford's adept kicking game, Woodward pointed out that the game's dynamism transcends mere boot work.
"If England only want to kick and chase then they may as well just play Aussie rules,"
he quipped, highlighting the need for a more expansive game plan.
Woodward's advice to Borthwick was clear: hand Fin Smith the No 10 jersey and let him spearhead an attacking revamp. With these changes, Woodward hopes to see an England team that's not just competing, but captivating and clinching victories with flair and strategy.
This weekend's match-up is poised to be a significant one, with England looking to rebound and Ireland still trying to adjust to life after their legendary flyhalf. As the teams line up at Twickenham, all eyes will be on Borthwick's selections and whether he takes Woodward's bold suggestions to heart.
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Clive Woodward has thrown down the gauntlet, urging England's Steve Borthwick to shake things up for the upcoming clash with Ireland at Twickenham. It's time, he says, for Henry Pollock to start and for a fresh face at No 10 to light up England's attack after their recent stumble in the Six Nations against Scotland.
England's dreams of a Six Nations Grand Slam were dashed in Edinburgh last Saturday with a 31-20 defeat by Scotland, snapping their 12-match winning streak. Woodward, not one to mince words, expressed his dissatisfaction with the performance.
"After more in-depth analysis of England’s defeat by Scotland, I’ve come to the conclusion that the performance in Edinburgh was simply not acceptable,"
Woodward stated in his column for the Daily Mail.The former World Cup-winning coach believes it's time for Borthwick to let Pollock shine from the starting whistle.
"I would 100% start him against Ireland. Henry Pollock is the man to be at the centre of it,"
Woodward advocated. Despite Pollock's rookie status with only seven caps, all off the bench, Woodward feels the young flanker's energy and drive are what England need to reignite their campaign.Woodward didn't stop at just the forward pack. He also had some choice words about the flyhalf position, suggesting it was time for a strategic pivot. "It’s a big call on George Ford, but I would replace him with Fin Smith," he remarked. The rationale? While acknowledging Ford's adept kicking game, Woodward pointed out that the game's dynamism transcends mere boot work.
"If England only want to kick and chase then they may as well just play Aussie rules,"
he quipped, highlighting the need for a more expansive game plan.Woodward's advice to Borthwick was clear: hand Fin Smith the No 10 jersey and let him spearhead an attacking revamp. With these changes, Woodward hopes to see an England team that's not just competing, but captivating and clinching victories with flair and strategy.
This weekend's match-up is poised to be a significant one, with England looking to rebound and Ireland still trying to adjust to life after their legendary flyhalf. As the teams line up at Twickenham, all eyes will be on Borthwick's selections and whether he takes Woodward's bold suggestions to heart.