Clive Woodward reveals three changes England need to make if ‘positive Borthwick’ is to claim ‘big All Blacks scalp’
Ollie Lawrence, with Marcus Smith in support, goes on the attack against Fiji and, inset, ex-England boss Clive Woodward
Clive Woodward has highlighted three selection changes he wants to see if England are to beat the All Blacks on Saturday at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
Steve Borthwick’s team are on a nine-match winning streak heading into the fixture that will define their Autumn Nations Series.
Already this November, they have defeated Australia and Fiji in London by respective 18 and 20-point margins, but trying to beat a New Zealand team that is already halfway towards a grand slam success, following wins over Ireland and Scotland, will be a huge step up.
The 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning coach insisted his England glass remained half-full despite some concerning moments last weekend before the defiant Fiji were eventually put away.
Reflecting on an exciting fixture against the Pacific Islanders, he doubled down on his belief that Borthwick should not have shuffled his line-up from the opening weekend win over the Wallabies.
“I’m not sure how much they learned…”
Writing in the Daily Mail, Woodward reckoned: “England have now won nine consecutive Tests, so my glass is undoubtedly half full at the very least when it comes to analysing Steve Borthwick’s side. Now comes their acid test against New Zealand.
“It is a statement of the obvious to say they will be England’s toughest challenge of the autumn, but I am positive Borthwick and his players can claim a big scalp even if they will have to improve again on the back of their wins over Australia and Fiji this month.”
Woodward went on to highlight how England had leaned on their bench over the past two weekends, adding that Fiji “were immense and are clearly a coming force internationally”. He then got stuck into Borthwick’s selection and listed the changes he wants to see against the All Blacks.
“As I wrote ahead of the Fiji game, 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. I thought Fin Smith, for example, was quiet at No.10 and I’d expect George Ford to come back into the side at fly-half for the All Blacks.
“I have been consistent in my view that I’m not totally convinced by England’s centre pairing. Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Lawrence started there against Fiji with Tommy Freeman on the wing.
“For New Zealand, I’d bring back Freeman at No.13. But he should never have been moved from there in the first place, and that’s why I make the point that perhaps this game was a bit of a missed opportunity, with the All Blacks in mind.
“Freddie Steward, who missed this game, will hopefully be fit to return at full-back too. To become a potential World Cup-winning team, England have to nail down their first-choice XV and stick with it.
“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 his concern that England had missed an opportunity to advance their midfield by switching Freeman’s starting position against the Fijians, he ended by optimistically highlighting that Scott Robertson’s All Blacks’ midfield isn’t what it could be either.
“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. While they undoubtedly have wonderful players, the loss of Jordie Barrett is highly significant because he is truly world-class for Robertson’s men in midfield.”
