"Barmy" - Sir Clive Woodward slams decision to fine Jack Nowell

Nowell admitted that his conduct was "prejudicial to the interests of the game" and has been directed to undertake a referees’ course. The panel ordered that the fine be paid to charity.

In a tweet that led to the fine, Nowell said, "I'm actually in shock, like shock shocked. What the hell is happening? That's one of the worst decisions I've ever seen. EVER."

Woodward, in his column for the Mail Online, expressed his disappointment with the RFU and their recent decisions.

He wrote: "Jack Nowell’s £10,000 fine for tweeting criticism of a refereeing decision is yet another example of the game’s hierarchy having total disregard for players and fans. It is plain barmy.

"On the back of Freddie Steward’s red card in Dublin, the Nowell incident is the latest instance of rugby leaving itself open to ridicule. It must stop.

"I had the same reaction when I read Ellis Genge’s ban for a dangerous hit was being reduced from three weeks to two if he attends tackle school. Tackle school? It’s a joke.

"It’s these sorts of things that make people just laugh at rugby. Nowell was fined because the RFU felt he attacked Dickson personally. I don’t think Nowell did that at all. What he did was criticise the decision and by extension rugby’s rules."

Woodward criticized the decision to send Nowell to a refereeing course, calling it "totally ridiculous." He also highlighted that Nowell's tweet contained no personal attack, bad language, or derogatory or unpleasant comments.

Woodward believes that Nowell was right to act as he did, and that the team of officials missed the point and ruined a good game.

"Cipriani is the only English number 10 of the past 20 years who, if I'd been coach and he had been up for selection at the same time as Jonny, could have caused big selection headaches.

"The Sale man's skill-set is so complete. He poses an attacking threat with ball in hand and has a superb kicking game and world-class distribution. I think Wilkinson would have got the nod over him in the end but the fact I even mention them in the same breath shows how highly I rate Cipriani."

Woodward said: "In the Grand Slam game in 2003, we worked on a plan to man-mark him with three players, so the tackler was not exposed by O'Driscoll's footwork and pace in a one-on-one situation.

"That's how big a threat we believed he was - he needed three men to handle him. Ireland were going for a Grand Slam, but none of the players around Brian were in the same league.

"Whenever he had the ball we wanted one player opposite him and one man either side - it would usually be Wilkinson, Will Greenwood and Mike Tindall."

"He took rugby to a whole new level," said Woodward.

"There's very rarely one player who dominates a whole World Cup and he certainly did."

 "Jonny was special and he scared the opposition. Everyone has to pat him on the back."

"The way he defended and attacked, he was a very special player," added Woodward, who handed Wilkinson his England debut in 1998.

"All of us involved in that team [in 2003] just felt very lucky and privileged to have had him around at that time.

"He would have taken the decision to retire very seriously but he will still be playing for Toulon, and he has been playing very well for Toulon.

"I'd just like to say well done to him. He has done so much for not just English rugby but also world rugby on the field, and especially off the field."

He said: "The greatest talent I played against was Gareth Edwards. He was in his last season and I was in my first.

"His talent was undiminished and he had a great aura. His banter with his old Lions mate Bob Hiller was also priceless. As a coach, it is Jason Robinson.

"He was a sponge and soaked up every single rugby union skill. By the end he was probably the best kicker out of hand we had, he laid the ball back at rucks perfectly and his tackle technique was perfect. What a player."

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