Former England World Cup-winning boss\u00a0Sir Clive Woodward\u00a0has called on\u00a0Steve Borthwick\u00a0to make a ruthless selection call in the wake of England\u2019s defeat to Scotland \u2014 urging him to drop veteran fly-half\u00a0George Ford\u00a0and hand control to rising star\u00a0Fin Smith.<\/p>\n
Watch the Guinness Six Nations at your local\u00a0Greene King sports pub<\/a>.<\/p>\n Writing in his column, Woodward insisted England must move beyond a predictable kicking strategy, arguing that the current approach is stifling the team\u2019s attacking potential.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a big call on George Ford, but I would also replace him with Fin Smith,\u201d Woodward wrote.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all very well saying Ford has a great kicking game \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Ford, who has amassed 105 caps for his country, has long been trusted for his game management and tactical kicking. But Woodward believes England\u2019s reliance on statistics and territorial kicking has become a crutch rather than a weapon.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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\u2019s no doubt that tactic didn\u2019t work at the weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018Give Fin Smith the keys\u2019<\/p>\n Woodward\u2019s solution is bold but clear: back youth and unleash England\u2019s attacking instincts.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d give Fin Smith the keys to No 10 for Ireland and tell him to get England\u2019s attack moving.\u201d<\/p>\n The former head coach also questioned England\u2019s bench strategy, suggesting the policy of holding back game-changers cost them dearly at Murrayfield.<\/p>\n He highlighted dynamic forward\u00a0Henry Pollock\u00a0as a player capable of providing genuine spark.<\/p>\n \u201cEngland need some X-Factor players in their side and Pollock undoubtedly provides that in spades,\u201d Woodward added. With Ireland next on the horizon, pressure is mounting on Borthwick to respond. Whether he sticks with experience in Ford or rolls the dice with Smith could define England\u2019s campaign \u2014 and determine whether Woodward\u2019s warning proves prophetic.<\/p>\n Join the\u00a0RUCK\u2019s WhatsApp community here<\/a>\u00a0and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.<\/p>\n Six Nations Team Of The Week: Round Two<\/p>\n 1.\u00a0Danilo Fischetti\u00a0(Italy)<\/p>\n After conceding an early scrum penalty, Fischetti responded brilliantly. He grew into the contest against Thomas Clarkson and finished the first half in complete control, folding the Irish scrum to force a change at the break. Busy in the loose and combative throughout, it was a powerful display.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0Julien Marchand\u00a0(France)<\/p>\n Not flawless, but effective. Marchand\u2019s handling wobbled at times, yet he threw accurately and stayed active. He was the beneficiary of France\u2019s rolling maul early in the second half, dotting down to cap a solid showing.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0Simone Ferrari\u00a0(Italy)<\/p>\n Ferrari set the tone with a thunderous early hit on Garry Ringrose and never let up. His scrummaging was equally imposing, winning a key penalty before half-time and backing it up after the restart in a combative performance.<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0Gregor Brown\u00a0(Scotland)<\/p>\n Brown\u2019s work-rate was immense. Alongside Scott Cummings, he helped halt an England maul in a pivotal moment. Tireless in defence, he repeatedly hit, bounced up and reset to frustrate the visitors.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0Scott Cummings\u00a0(Scotland)<\/p>\n A dependable presence in the engine room. Cummings secured valuable lineout ball and put his body on the line in defence, completing 18 tackles in a gritty, disciplined display.<\/p>\n 6.\u00a0Michele Lamaro\u00a0(Italy)<\/p>\n A captain\u2019s performance. Lamaro was relentless at the breakdown, producing a huge counter-ruck and crucial turnover near his own line. Ferocious in contact and inspirational throughout.<\/p>\n 7.\u00a0Jamie Ritchie\u00a0(Scotland)<\/p>\n Penalised twice and forced off with a knee injury at half-time, but Ritchie more than justified his recall. He was physical, disruptive and capped his impact with a well-taken try.<\/p>\n 8.\u00a0Ben Earl\u00a0(England)<\/p>\n England lacked rhythm, but Earl never stopped carrying. He racked up 23 carries and topped the tackle count, showing sharp footwork in tight spaces. Rewarded with a late try in a tireless individual effort.<\/p>\n CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO<\/a><\/p>\n Like this:<\/p>\n Like Loading…<\/p>\n
\u201cPollock has won all of his seven caps to date as a replacement, but I think England\u2019s mantra of having their best players on the bench caught up with them at Murrayfield.\u201d<\/p>\n