Woodward: 'New contracts could diminish fear factor'

World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has questioned the Rugby Football Union's decision to award the England management new contracts in the run-up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.


In his column for the Daily Mail, Woodward praises the work Lancaster has done since he took over in 2012 but has questioned the timing of the announcement.

Woodward points to his own situation in 2003 when he signed a new contract prior to the World Cup but no official release was made until after they had won the competition amid fears it could distract the team.



Woodward fears the announcement "could …