'Henry Arundell has to start' - Sir Clive Woodword

'Henry Arundell has to start' - Sir Clive Woodword

Former England head coach Sir Clive Woodward has called for Eddie Jones to start London Irish superstar Henry Arundell in the second test against Australia.

 

England fell to a 30-28 defeat at the hands of Australia despite the Wallabies being down to 14-men for most of the match.

 

Henry Arundell came off the bench in the latter stages of the match and scored a try with his first touch in the England jersey.

 



He followed that up with a barnstorming run that led to a try for fellow test debutant Jack van Poortvliet. 

 

Woodward wrote in his latest SportsMail column that this week presents Jones and England with a 'huge opportunity.'


 

'It's knockout rugby. Jones has to go for broke. It's time for him to play all his cards and make some big selection calls.

 

'As I've repeatedly said, Jones is not a great selector and the amount of talent available to him has made him more confused. The way the England team has been picked since the 2019 World Cup has been utterly confusing.

 

'Jones is also not good at admitting mistakes, but there is nothing to lose this weekend because if England are beaten in Brisbane, the series is gone. So there is no point dying wondering.' Woodward wrote.

 

Woodward believes that there is not much wrong with England's pack but Jones must add pace.

 

'Henry Arundell has to start, 100 per cent. He has speed in abundance and his try in the first Test was superb. He starts on the wing in my team for the second match.' Woodward said.

 

'I'd bring Tommy Freeman into outside centre. He is uncapped, but he had a strong game at full-back in the horror show pre-tour defeat by the Barbarians.'

 

Woodward says that he will make further changes saying that he would keep Freddie Steward at full-back but would make changes in other backline positions.

 

'I'm still not convinced Jack Nowell is England's best winger and I would have had Ollie Hassell-Collins, who is way ahead of Nowell and May. Hassell-Collins, like Adam Radwan, isn't on tour. They are no doubt sunning themselves in Portugal instead.

 

'I'd also start Jack van Poortvliet at scrum-half and not just because he scored at the death in Perth. I've liked Van Poortvliet since I first saw him at Leicester.

 

There is no way Jones will move away from Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell at 10 and 12, but this is where he has got himself into a hole. There isn't anyone else to pick at 12.'

 

 

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