Sir Clive Woodward drops Dylan Hartley & George Ford from his team to play Australia
Written by News on 12/11/2017
Sir Clive Woodward has no room for captain Dylan Hartley or George Ford in his England team to play Australia in next week’s Autumn International at Twickenham.
Woodward has Jamie George starting at hooker for the game against the Wallabies ahead of Hartley. George came off the bench against Argentina and Woodward is keen to see more.
Woodward said: "I want to see what he can do. I think he should have started the game against Argentina.
"I think George and Harry Williams are really knocking on the door against Hartley and Dan Cole, which means a change of captain, but I think we have got to have that change. Samoa will be too late so we’ve got to find out."
Owen Farrell played no part in the 21-8 win against Argentina at Twickenham, but Woodward has him back in the starting line-up with Ford making way.
He said: "I think deep down Farrell wants to play 10. Jonny Wilkinson played 10, he doesn’t want to play 12. If you’re the top centre forward in world football you want 9 on your back, there’s a real charisma about it. He wants to strut out with 10 on his back. I’d like to see him play 10 because he’s never had a proper start for England in that position."
Elsewhere, Woodward keeps Anthony Watson at full-back in place of the unfortunate Mike Brown who went off injured against Argentina.
You can watch England v Australia Live on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Main Event next Saturday from 2pm.
(c) Sky News 2017: Sir Clive Woodward drops Dylan Hartley & George Ford from his team to play Australia
