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'30pts or more' - Woodward and Greenwood predict Welsh thrashing
Sir Clive Woodward and Will Greenwood have both predicted that England will thrash Wales in Twickenham today when the two sides meet in the Round 3 of the Guinness Six Nations.
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This season’s tournament might only be at the halfway point, but it will effectively be game over for whichever team loses on Saturday.
Both countries lost their opening matches – England being defeated by Scotland and Wales suffering an emphatic reversal in Ireland – but then put themselves back on track with respective victories over Italy and Scotland.
After finishing fifth in last season’s tournament, England know they must kick on towards tough assignments next month against Ireland and France, while Wales’ continued hopes of a successful title defence hinge on the outcome at Twickenham – a ground where they have not claimed a Six Nations win since 2012.
Yet, England haven’t beaten Wales by more than 15 points in the Six Nations since 2006, their biggest winning margin recently in the competition being 14 points in 2019.
Yet Woodward is confident that England will put Wayne Picac’s men to sword.
“Many were predicting a close game but I was expecting England to win by 30 points or more.
“Why am I so confident? Because England have finally selected a team capable of playing rugby in the fast lane and scoring tries quickly. If they can gain ascendancy they can build a score quickly.”
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Woodward concedes that Wales do offer a counter attacking strength, but he says that it’s a threat that England need to embrace, fight fire with fire if you will.
“…with their dangerous broken-field runners, Wales also backed themselves to choose their moment to switch instantly from kick tennis to full-on counter attack.
“I assume England have a plan to counter this should Wales resort to similar tactics today and this is where the game of bluff and counter bluff will be good to watch.
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“England’s catchers at the back must not be drawn into the game Wales want. Instead of kicking back they should run the ball back with purpose and England are well-equipped to do just that.”
Ultimatlely, the 2003 Rugby World Cup winner believes Eddie Jones’ are superior in this field of play too.
“They have nothing to fear in that respect and if Wales want to keep the ball in play, England’s attitude should be, “Bring it on!”
Former England centre Will Greenwood is in agreement with his former head coach, writing in his Telegraph column that the Welsh boys are in for a tough afternoon in English Rugby’s HQ.
“Wales will draw England into a street fight. It’s their best chance. They don’t want this to be a game of sevens. England want it to be as fast as anything in front of the home crowd. Ball in play, let’s go.
“I think England will win comfortably. I really do. They’re good value in the ‘market’ to win by 20 points as well. It does not happen very often that’s why. I think they can. Do that, and they’re back in the Championship,” said the British & Irish Lion.
RugbyPass’ Andy Goode is also predicting a relatively comfortable win for England.
“This current England team is still in transition but Ireland, who are more of a well-oiled machine, beat them by 22 in Dublin a few weeks ago and Eddie Jones’ men have the capability to do something similar.
“The fear factor of Tuilagi may not be there but the Twickenham effect will still be massive, with Wales having only won there twice in the Six Nations since 1988.
“Tuilagi or no Tuilagi, England are big favourites. Wales haven’t won at Twickenham since the 2015 World Cup and there have been better Welsh sides than this one that have tried and failed.
“The conditions look set to be perfect and, while the absence of Tuilagi is a setback, England have the all-court game to beat Wales in different ways and I can see a comfortable 15-point victory for the home side.”
– additional reporting PA
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments