English World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward has labelled Australia’s sacking of national coach Eddie Jones last week a mistake that could cost the Wallabies dearly at the 2007 World Cup in France.
Woodward, embroiled in a coaching controversy of his own at English Championship football side Southampton, was also named in one Australian newspaper as a surprise contender to replace Jones at the Wallabies.
The mastermind of England’s 2003 World Cup win over Australia in Sydney questioned the wisdom of sacking Jones less than two years before the tournament in France.
”We are well down the road to the next World Cup and I think it was a mistake to let him go,” Woodward told The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper.
”He is an experienced coach who has had a lot of success at international level and, to be honest, there are not many of them around.”
The Australian Rugby Union terminated Jones’ contract last week after a disastrous European tour left the Wallabies with only one win in their past nine Tests, the side’s worst losing streak in 36 years.
Woodward said the Wallabies would have been more competitive but for a bad run of injuries in the latter part of Jones’ tenure.
He said Jones had been focussed on building for the World Cup and his record meant he should have retained the support of the Australian Rugby Union, despite some poor results.
”When I was coaching England, I always loved it when teams were changing coaches,” he said.
”I think one of the main reasons New Zealand are going to be so formidable is that they have a formidable coach who in his time has had some real bad runs.
”I think Eddie had targeted the next World Cup and it was a mistake to let him go.”
The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported rumours in England that Woodward was eyeing the Wallabies job after his transition to football with Southampton turned sour.
The ARU said it had not been contacted by Woodward but chief executive Gary Flowers said no candidate would be ruled out.
”If Clive wants to apply, he is more than welcome to do so,” he told the newspaper.
Appointing Woodward would cause an uproar in Australia, where fans took a dislike to him in the lead up to the 2003 World Cup final.
Critics would also point to Woodward’s record during the British Lions tour of New Zealand earlier this year, when they were trounced in three Tests against the All Blacks.
Woodward’s appointment as performance director at Southampton was believed to be one of the reasons behind manager Harry Redknapp’s departure last month. – Sapa-AFP