Campese - got it wrong last time (Getty Images).
CAMPESE: WOODWARD WON'T LAST
By Carl Laferton, PA Sport
Ex-Australian winger and serial Pommie-basher David Campese has launched
another broadside at England coach Sir Clive Woodward, saying he will not still
be coaching the Red Rose side in 2007 because his players will become "sick of
him".
World record tryscorer Campese, who famously walked down Oxford Street with a
sandwich board which said 'I admit the best team won' after betting that England
would not win the World Cup last year, has something of a hate-hate relationship
with the England supremo.
In his latest outburst the Aussie, part of the team which beat England in
the 1991 World Cup Final, told talkSPORT: "I don't think Clive Woodward will be
there in 2007 because the players will get sick of him. It's human nature."
He criticised Woodward for his reaction to the defeat to Ireland three weeks
ago, and said England's personnel and style would have to change if they are to
retain the World Cup in four years' time.
The 41-year-old said: "You lose to Ireland and then he carts out Jason
Robinson to a press conference, which he's never done before. Win or lose, you
have to take responsibility as a coach."
"At the moment, England are struggling. You have to look to the future.
"England are going through the same things that we went through after winning
the World Cup.
"In four years' time, you are not going to win the World Cup with the same
team playing the same style of rugby."
This is not the first time Campese has crossed swords with Woodward.
All the way through the World Cup last autumn, the Australian lambasted
England for being too slow, too old and too boring and branded them "a threat
to the global game" - but they still beat the Wallabies in the final after
extra-time.
Before that, he said in March 2003 that Woodward should be replaced as
national coach.
When Campese was chosen to present England with their Team of the Year award
at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year event in December, Woodward said using
him was "a bad error of judgement".
The England coach said: "To pick a guy that has little or no respect in the
world of international rugby was a crass decision."
|
