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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Sport
Will Freeman

Six Nations news as Clive Woodward stunned by Eddie Jones situation & Manu Tuilagi England criticism

Sir Clive Woodward has never been short of insights since his Rugby World Cup triumph as England head coach back in 2003 and has offered his thoughts on the current setup in the wake of defeat in the Calcutta Cup.

England lost 20-17 to Scotland at the weekend with Eddie Jones facing scrutiny for the decision taken to bring off Marcus Smith for George Ford with 15 minutes to play.

Woodward said in his Daily Mail column: "Let me paint a hypothetical scenario for you. Harlequins are playing Gloucester at a fired-up Kingsholm and after a very physical first hour are beginning to translate their glut of possession and territorial advantage into points.

"Marcus Smith has just stolen in for a beautifully taken individual try to silence the crowd and to make it 17 points personally in the game, the forwards are on top and Quins look good to add to their 17-10 lead.

"And then at that precise moment, Quins inexplicably take Smith off along with a raft of other players who had been going really well. Quins then implode and lose a game they should have won.

"Can you imagine what the Monday morning debrief would be like down at their training centre?"

The former England head coach, who went on to head up Team GB's sporting operation in the run-up to the hugely successful London 2012, went on to criticise the setup at the RFU, saying Eddie Jones' lack of accountability is a 'massive weakness'.

He added: "It’s a hypothetical question because Quins would never take their talisman Smith off in such a situation. So why did Eddie Jones? Will there be a no-holds-barred inquest at Pennyhill Park this morning? I suspect not.

"There is nobody at Twickenham qualified to hold Eddie Jones to account in the rugby sense, he clearly has them all in his pocket. He can’t be questioned, which is a massive weakness.

"When he made a mess of the Six Nations last year the RFU apparently held a cosy little inquest with a collection of ‘rugby experts’, which was in itself an acknowledgement there was no one at Twickenham willing to question Jones."

Warburton slams England selection

Former British and Irish Lions captain Sam Warburton has questioned the decisions that led to England playing Henry Slade out of position at inside-centre for the defeat to Scotland.

Speaking on the BBC, Warburton criticised England's reliance on Manu Tuilagi, who looks set for a return for the Red Rose after managing 30 minutes for Sale against Harlequins at the weekend.

Grand-slam winning former Wales captain Warburton questioned England's heavy reliance on a player whose injury problems have defined his career.

He said: "It is ridiculous. A country who has got 12 pro teams, three players per team contracted full-time who can play 12, so 36 inside centres.

"Let's say six aren't English qualified. You have got 30 inside centres professionally contracted and they can't find someone to replace Manu Tuilagi. It's inexplicable."

With Gloucester's Mark Atkinson called up after some brilliant performances this season for the Cherry and Whites it looked as though he may get a chance but it was Slade alongside Elliot Daly for Eddie Jones against Scotland.

It remains to be seen what role Tuilagi will play for England in their remaining games, but given their struggles a call-up this week looks likely.

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