Woodward backs Wilkinson - 橄欖球

Monday, 13 September, 2004, 07:29 GMT 08:29 UK
Woodward backs Wilkinson

Woodward expects Wilkinson to succeed Dallaglio

Sir Clive Woodward has tipped Jonny Wilkinson to be England's next captain
after Lawrence Dallaglio's resignation.

The former England coach said he felt star fly-half Wilkinson would edge
out prop Phil Vickery to take the role.

"I think England have to put in place a long-term captain. I don't think it
will be outside those two," Woodward told BBC Radio Four.

"Wilkinson's back playing fantastically well. I think England will come out
absolutely firing in November."

Dallaglio retired from international rugby at the end of August, days before
Woodward stepped down as coach of the national team.

Woodward, who is now focusing on coaching the British and Irish Lions on
their tour of New Zealand next year, does not think Wilkinson's kicking
duties would detract from his ability to skipper England.

"Every captain's different. But Jonny Wilkinson's captained England before
under me. We just have to change the way we operate," he said.

"Wilkinson will have a very different way of captaining England to, say,
Lawrence Dallaglio or Martin Johnson - the last two guys I worked with.

"The biggest thing is he wants to do it. He's gone on record saying he wants
to captain the team.

"He's a superstar player and he's the future of England rugby and he wants
to do it.

"If you wanted someone as an absolute role model that people can follow then
he's the guy."

Meanwhile, Woodward admitted that the door was open to former England stars
Dallaglio, Johnson and Neil Back for next year's Lions tour.

But he stressed that the players needed to demonstrate a strong desire to
play for the Lions.

"If you decide not to play international rugby, it's important to say 'yes'
you really want to play for the Lions," he said.

"The Lions should actually come from your four international teams. There
has to be a compelling reason for me to go outside the guys who are playing
international rugby.

"They have got to want to do it. They got a lot on their plates at the moment
those three players.

"It's not up to me to try and persuade someone to play for the Lions."


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