Clive Woodward takes aim at ‘Aussie rules’ George Ford as he demands four England changes to face Ireland
George Ford at England training this week along with Henry Pollock, inset
Ex-England coach Clive Woodward has called on Steve Borthwick to make four changes for this Saturday’s Six Nations Round Three clash with Ireland – including the axing of George Ford.
The fly-half played just 24 minutes in the tournament in 2025, coming off the bench for the closing stages of the record Round Five rout of Wales in Cardiff last March.
However, with Fin Smith, who started four times, and Marcus Smith, a starter in the opening match away to Ireland, touring with the British and Irish Lions, Ford seized Borthwick’s No.10 shirt and has been the starting England fly-half in eight of their last nine matches.
He came a cropper, though, in his latest appearance, and the ignominy of England’s 31-20 hammering by Scotland included the remarkable 10-point second half swing where he had a drop goal attempt from in front of the posts charged down by Matt Fagerson, who gathered the ball, raced to halfway and transferred for Huw Jones to score a converted try.
Big call
England at the time were looking to reduce the 24-13 margin to eight points – 24-16 – but they instead abruptly found themselves 31-13 down with 25 minutes remaining, leaving the ‘Pom Squad’, which soon arrived into the fray, with too much to do,
Fin Smith, was part of those alterations, getting sent on as the replacement that made it a 15-on-15 contest following the expiry of Henry Arundell’s 20-minute red card, and Woodward, the 2023 Six Nations Grand Slam and Rugby World Cup-winning coach, now wants Smith restored to the No.10 jersey to take on the Irish with Ford dropped.
With Woodward expecting Arundell not to receive a ban at Tuesday’s disciplinary hearing into his double yellow card sending-off, he wants the winger retained in the team but has demanded three changes to be made to the Round Three backline – Smith for Ford at No.10, George Furbank for Freddie Steward at full-back and Seb Atkinson for Fraser Dingwall at No.12.
Aside from that trio of alterations designed to light up a laboured English attack, he also wants the promotion in the pack of sub Henry Pollock to start at openside at the expense of Sam Underhill, who was subbed off at half-time at Murrayfield and replaced by Tom Curry.
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“It’s a big call on George Ford, but I would also replace him with Fin Smith,” explained Woodward in his latest Sportsmail column. “It’s all very well saying Ford has a great kicking game and he does. But rugby is about more than just kicking. If England only want to kick and chase, then they may as well just play Aussie rules.
“I have seen so much talk about England kicking to compete and win back possession. Statistics seem to dominate that narrative. But coaching has to be about more than just numbers and there’s no doubt that tactic didn’t work at the weekend. I’d give Fin Smith the keys to No.10 for Ireland and tell him to get England’s attack moving.”
Woodward went on to claim that England were in dire need of some X-factor, citing the loss of injured winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso as particularly tough, and his solution would be for Borthwick to stop his habit of using Pollock as a substitute and instead start him on Saturday at Allianz Stadium.
“Pollock has won all of his seven caps to date as a replacement, but England’s mantra of having their best players on the bench caught up with them at Murrayfield,” he wrote. “Now is the time to unleash Pollock from the off… I want to see this England team run and Pollock is a player who can bring that to the team.
“I also think if he’s given the responsibility of starting a game, it will calm him down and he will thrive.”
Woodward, who claimed in an injury-free world that Feyi-Waboso and Adam Radwan would be his preferred wings, went on to suggest that last Saturday’s 20-minute red card was a sufficient punishment for Arundell and that he shouldn’t cop a ban for an Ireland fixture where several leading players must deliver.
“Lots of players have lots to prove this weekend. Maro Itoje had his poorest game for England in Edinburgh, so I’m expecting a big response from him. The same goes for Ellis Genge.”
The ex-England boss wrapped up his selection by stressing the need for a changed midfield combination. “At the start of the tournament, I picked Seb Atkinson and Tommy Freeman as my centres and I’m sticking with that.
“England used Freeman wrongly in Edinburgh. He is not a crash-ball midfielder. England have to give him the ball in space, not use him as a battering ram. I expect a statement performance from England this weekend.
Clive Woodward’s England team to face Ireland: 15 George Furbank, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Henry Pollock, 6 Guy Pepper, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge
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