ENGLAND

News | Profile | Anthem | Fixtures | Results

Andrew hits out at Woodward

Tuesday 26th August 2008

Andrew: Slams England's 2003 World Cup aftermath

Rob Andrew claims Sir Clive Woodward's 2003 World Cup-winning coaching team left the England side in a "terrible state".

Rugby Football Union (RFU) elite performance director Andrew believes a lack of foresight was to blame for England's terrible form in the aftermath of their Sydney triumph five years ago, when Woodward stepped down and Andy Robinson, who had worked under him, endured a thoroughly miserable spell as his successor.

Andrew will deliver a progress report to RFU bosses at Twickenham on Thursday.

"Without naming names, I do want to make the point that the 2003 World Cup coaching team effectively left no legacy to the English game," he told the Daily Mail.

"As a result, the elite end of the sport in this country was in a terrible state.

"I have no wish to personalise the issue.

"There was no structure, no real long-term planning, no development strategy. When the edifice fell over after the 2003 World Cup, there was nothing behind it."