England schedule 'ridiculous' – Wood

England flanker Tom Wood has lashed out at the clash between this season's Aviva Premiership Final and the 1st Test in New Zealand.

England flanker Tom Wood has lashed out at the clash between this season's Aviva Premiership Final and the 1st Test in New Zealand.

England will take on the world champions a week after the Premiership Final, not allowing enough time for those players participating to fly out and be involved for the first of three matches.

Wood's Northampton Saints outfit are tipped to make the final after finishing second behind Saracens.

They will take on Leicester Tigers this Friday at Franklin's Gardens, with the winner playing at Twickenham on May 30.

Given how many of England's players come from those two sides along with Saracens and Harlequins, Stuart Lancaster will be forced to field a far weaker group than he would have like in Auckland.

Wood describes the fact that players will miss out on a Test cap due to reaching the highest level for their clubs as a situation that should never happen.

“I think it's ridiculous in all honesty. It splits your loyalties and it is a question you should never have to ask yourself,” Wood told the Daily Mirror.

“The reality is that playing for a Premiership final could do you out of an England cap.

“For some people that could be their first cap or the difference between getting in the side and cementing your place or not.

“Those are questions you should never have to ask. You should be doing the best you can for your club and playing yourself into contention for your country – the two should never be in conflict.”