News

Robbo and Woody bite back

August 31 2008

Edinburgh coach, and former England coach Andy Robinson, and England's World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward, have both hit back at Rob Andrew after the latter's criticism of the post-2003 era when first Woodward and then Robinson struggled to maintain England's success.

"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," Andrew was quoted as saying on Friday.

"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."

Robinson, speaking to The Times on Sunday, who was sacked by Andrew after the latter had recently been appointed Elite Rugby Director, found the comments 'self-serving, inaccurate, and unworthy'.

"Every time Rob opens his mouth, he does not do himself any favours," Robinson said.

"All national and club coaches have a responsibility for developing future England players, and he was a club coach at the time. England also had an academy to develop young players, and it was not the role of the 2003 international coaching team to coach them.

"That academy was only developed in 2001-2, which was a bit late to be providing players for 2003-4.

"I don't want to get into a slanging match, but Rob needs to look in the mirror at times, because his comments are disrespectful."

Meanwhile, Woodward reqested that his report into the RWC 2003 triumph be published as a response, but the request has been, perhaps understandably, refused by the RFU.

The general opinion within English rugby is that Woodward is not to blame as Andrew says he is, indeed, Woodward's resignation was in the wake of the govering body's refusal to play ball with Woodward's ideas. He famously commented at the time: "Working with the RFU is like skiing uphill."