Sir Clive Woodward Doesn't Agree with Borthwick's England XV, He'd Make EIGHT Changes
01/28/2025 04:49 PM
Sir Clive Woodward has shared his thoughts on Steve Borthwick’s selection for England’s upcoming Six Nations clash with Ireland – and it’s safe to say he has a different vision.
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While Borthwick has made his choices, Woodward would make eight changes to the starting XV, advocating for a shake-up in multiple positions.
A Fresh Start with Maro Itoje as Captain
One of the biggest headlines in Borthwick's England announcement is Maro Itoje’s promotion to captain for the Six Nations. Woodward fully supports this decision, praising Itoje's leadership qualities. At 30, the Saracens lock has been a leader in waiting, guiding England's U20 side to World Championship glory in 2014, and more recently stepping up as Saracens’ skipper after Owen Farrell’s move to France.
“Borthwick Can Spark Excitement”
Despite his disagreements over some selections, Sir Clive isn't all doom and gloom. In his column for the Mail Online, he expressed confidence that England's squad is packed with talent. “These players are incredible on paper,” he wrote, “but the key is selecting the right ones and coaching them properly.”
Woodward also highlighted the need for some bold moves to create real excitement, calling for someone like George Hendy to electrify the crowd at full-back. His words suggest Borthwick could benefit from more adventurous thinking.
Navigating External Pressures
The weight on Borthwick’s shoulders is immense. Woodward touched on the multiple distractions the coach faces, including the Bill Sweeney bonus saga, ongoing club vs. country selection battles, and injury concerns such as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s potential surgery. Woodward feels for Borthwick, noting that a young coach dealing with this level of scrutiny could use the support of a director of rugby.
Woodward's Starting XV
So, who would Sir Clive pick if he had the reins? Here's his ideal starting XV for the Six Nations:
- Full-back: George Hendy
- Wings: Ollie Sleightholme, Tommy Freeman
- Centres: Fin Smith, Cadan Murley
- Fly-half: Marcus Smith
- Scrum-half: Alex Mitchell
- Front Row: Asher Opoku-Foudjour, Theo Dan, Will Stuart
- Second Row: Maro Itoje (captain), Ollie Chessum
- Back Row: Henry Pollock, Ben Earl, Tom Willis
Woodward's selection includes several bold calls, such as bringing in George Hendy at full-back and shifting players like Marcus Smith and Fin Smith into key roles.
Borthwick's England to Face Ireland
As Borthwick prepares to lead England into battle against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on 1 February, the stakes couldn't be higher. Maro Itoje will make history as England’s 136th captain, flanked by vice-captain Ellis Genge, and the team is ready to face a formidable Irish side.
England Team to Face Ireland
- 15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 35 caps)
- 14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)
- 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 69 caps)
- 12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 31 caps)
- 11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
- 10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 39 caps)
- 9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 18 caps)
- 1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 66 caps) – vice-captain
- 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 44 caps)
- 3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 45 caps)
- 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 88 caps) – captain
- 5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
- 6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)
- 7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 6 caps)
- 8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 37 caps)
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Can you name every England Rugby captain of the professional era?
From the early days of professionalism to the modern era, England has seen a host of legendary captains wearing the armband.
Whether it’s the grit of Will Carling in the 90s, the tactical brilliance of Martin Johnson, or the fearless leadership of Owen Farrell, this quiz will challenge even the most dedicated fans.
Think you can name them all? Grab your boots and let’s see how well you know the men who led England into battle on the world stage!
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