"Not personal" - Sir Clive Woodward bites back at Ben Earl after criticising forward

RUCK’s 2023 Six Nations content powered by ISUZU.

In his analysis, Woodward also addressed the ongoing verbal sparring between England's number 8, Ben Earl, and himself.

Woodward wasn’t happy with the Earl's post-match interview following the win against Ireland and issued his rebuke in his Daily Mail column.

“I didn’t like seeing a number of them hit back at the media in post-match interview,” wrote Woodward.

“Ben Earl was one to criticise the coverage England received after their Scotland defeat. That’s not what champion teams or champion individuals do. They should ignore the media or just see criticism as positive feedback like I did.

“Earl’s comments that ‘apparently we are the worst England team ever’ and ‘we have done pretty well for that accolade’ were not needed and detracted from the team’s performance and his own, which was outstanding.

“I don’t think anyone in the press called England’s current crop the worst in the country’s history!

“England’s players have to accept that if they play poorly — as they did in Edinburgh — they will be criticised. It’s part of playing at the highest level. I also think England shouldn’t just take aim at the media as a collective. If a player or coach has a grievance with what a journalist has written, then name them directly! If that is me, then I’m absolutely fine with that!”

"I felt it, I meant it and I stand by it now," he told the BBC's Rugby Union Daily podcast.

"I don't regret saying any of it. I remember being in a bit of a haze and watching it back thinking 'I can't believe I said that'.

"With some of the characters we have in the squad, when their integrity, professionalism and quality is being called into question they have always performed."

He added: "I read everything as I am fascinated by what people think

"What was the problem is that people weren't seeing the work we were doing in training and how well we were training. It just wasn't transferring.

"We had the best team in the world coming to Twickenham after one of our worst performances in a long while against Scotland two weeks prior.

He wrote: "France tighthead Atonio is just enormous! He’s so wide I’m not sure how his team-mates bind around him at the scrum. Genge is smaller but packs a real punch. He was England captain when they were hammered 53-10 by Les Bleus at Twickenham last season. I wonder if he’ll be out for revenge."

He wrote: "Like Atonio, Meafou is massive! He made his debut against Wales last week and has an interesting story after being born in New Zealand and raised in Australia. Martin will win his 12th England cap in Lyon. He is tough and has a nasty streak – in a good way – to him. It’s what you need as a Test lock."

He wrote: "I’ve been critical of Earl for celebrating England winning penalties and for hitting back at the press after the Ireland win. But that’s nothing personal because I think he’s a fabulous player. He seems to have made the No 8 shirt his own and has the sort of pace at the back of the scrum England need to play quickly. Alldritt had a long time off after the World Cup but will still be a big test for Earl."