Sir Clive Woodward tells Steve Borthwick to ditch 96-cap England star for Six Nations
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Former England head coach Sir Clive Woodward has urged Steve Borthwick to shift his focus toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup, calling for bold changes to reinvigorate the team.
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Six Nations Opener in Ireland
The 2025 Six Nations campaign kicks off in Dublin, with England facing Ireland on February 1st in what promises to be a challenging start.
A Call for Change at Fly-Half
Woodward, who famously led England to their 2003 World Cup triumph, believes it's time to move on from George Ford and embrace the future with either Marcus or Fin Smith at fly-half.
"There's no doubt Ford is a wonderful player," Woodward said. "He always has been, and at only 30, still has a huge amount to offer in the coming years.
“But the two Smiths — Marcus and Fin — can spark the sort of unpredictable, fast, and aggressive attacking game that England badly need."
Playing it Safe vs. Taking Risks
Woodward highlighted the need for Borthwick to take more risks: "Ford is undoubtedly the safe option. But England need to let the handbrake off. If it was a risk playing Fin Smith, I could understand the decision.
"But it clearly isn't because of his stunning form in the Premiership and Champions Cup this season.
"It's more than obvious to me that he has something special about him. For a young player, he can control a game very well."
Borthwick now faces the tough decision of whether to stick with experience or embrace the fresh energy Woodward is advocating for.
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