England 'must make big changes'

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World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward says his replacement Andy Robinson needs to make big changes if England are to defend the trophy.

"They can still win it because they have the players," Woodward told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme.

"Whether they have got the system in place, that's the question mark. You have got to buck the system - you have got to become a control freak.

"You have got to make some tough calls and be very, very aggressive at times."

Woodward is now elite performance director at the British Olympic Association after a spell with Southampton Football Club.

He added: "The system worries me. It's why I left and it hasn't changed in three years."

I can see Rob Andrew would be very excited about getting involved with the England team Sir Clive Woodward

He was passed over for the Rugby Football Union's new director of elite rugby position in favour of ex-Newcastle boss Rob Andrew.

"I can see why Rob would want to get involved with the England team because he has never actually coached an international team, and that would probably be the sexy side of the job, where to me, that was not the job," said Woodward.

"The big thing with the elite performance director was all the development, all the kids.

"I can see Rob would be very excited about getting involved with the England team, but I do not see for the future of English rugby that that was the job."

Woodward was also critical of the restructuring of the England coaching set-up which resulted in the departures of Phil Larder, Dave Alred and Joe Lydon.

"These are world-class people. Two of them have won the World Cup," said Woodward.

"To move them out of the England team was possibly the right call, but to actually lose them from the game was crazy.

"They should have been working in development now with kids because they have had six years coaching with England, won World Cups - they should have been put into other parts of the RFU.

"To actually sack them and get rid of them was ridiculous."