Clive Woodward is in a precarious position voicing this opinion but I agree that committing to Ashton thru 2011 would be a mistake. A cynic would argue that this English team made the RWC final on 2 poor pool games followed by 2 adequate ones, a very good win over Australia, followed by brave but far from impressive performances against France and SA. So by my count 1 truly good result from 7 matches on the back of 4 years of rubbish. Perhaps the dawn of a new era but I'd be hedging my bets and not committing anything beyond 12 more months to see if the English team can consolidate from here or not.

Dave McCarty, Barcelona, Spain

I couldn't agree more with the Woodward comments. In fact, i wish i was as eloquent as other contirbutors, as I've had my comments removed by the moderator on 3 separate occasions.

He must think the public are so stupid we cannot see through the thinnest of veneers for praise of the team ("his team") who contributed to (and overcame) the maligned strategy of Ashton. If he hadn't coached them so well in 03 they wouldn't have even got close to this final etc etc

Max, London,

Clive who?.....

GK, Calgary, Canada

Ashton did better than expected and England proved that their losses to South Africa meant one thing... they were beaten by the best. Their game against France proved that they had come to terms with their weaknesses and made the most of the strengths.
Woodward should shut up and let Ashford get on with the job. If England won the World Cup the last time it was Wilko who did it for him. No Wilko's kicks then no bloody Cup. Catt was brilliant too and they always do well together.

Peter Casie Chetty, Bootle, Liverpool, England

Sir Woodward's comments are inappropriate, since he help to coordinate the 2003 campaign the considerations for 2007 are entirely different. Furthermore if he was such a Guru he would have made every effort that there wouldn't be a vacuum within England and their performance in Internationals in the matches before the World Cup.
International Elite Rugby is where performance and tactical as well as defensive strategies are played out especially in a World Cup. But beyond that is passion and commitment to which I shall fault no one withing the England team or staff. That a commendable position of respect as well as integrity to which Sir Woodward should conduct himself which is also an attribute of character.
As Rob Andrews stated the matter is one of a review which shall take its appropriate course and I think that would be the most exemplary manner forward.
Good Leadership at International Level at any given sport is also about retaining a level of dignity in all that one says.

The Director, LONDON, England

Woodward: the man who dropped Neil Back from the SQUAD and then whinged about him retiring. 'Nuff said.

HGFC, Derby, UK

I agree with the consensus that Woodward is a self-promoting opinionated guy. I played centre opposite him at Leicester many times - only to heear his constant whinging all through the match - Paul Dodge made him look a better player than he was too. Being Welsh I felt the "pain" of England winning, but the strength laid in their solid pack of forwards, anda strong team-spirit and self-belief. Martin Johnson is the ONLY person I have time to listen to - he is your man (maybe I shouldn;t have promoted that idea!!)

Mike Edwards, Cambrige, UK

Where does Woodward get the time away from his Olympic job to dwell (and pontificate) upon the failures of the RFU? I would have thought that the role his currently fills is all consuming, particularly as most people do not fully understand what this role entails.
Perhaps he should get off his soap box and throw his hat into the ring and apply for the Wales job so that he can really make a contribution with his philosophy of winning.

Jonathan Buchanon, London,

I think it's unfair to judge Ashton on a short term remedy he had to put in place versus what his plans are for 2011. He had to save embarassment for 2007 and boy did he deliver! In the RFU interview for next year+ they should indeed question him on longer term development: - what are plans for Tait, Hipkiss, Rees, Haskell (who should be 15, 13, 7 and 8 respectively), what are his plans for finding Nos. 2 & 12 and second rows, what are his plans for finding back-ups (particularly for 9 &10) and the retirement strategy for the old timers. Then judge him.

Jon, Sandwich, UK

Woodward thought he was GOD after 2003, and now, as the more humble Ashton achieved something pretty amazing as well, Woodward has to step forward to piss on the parade in order to glorify himself.

All his comments recently point to one theme: he's the biggest and best, the success of 2007 is really only due to the amazing magic he did back in 2003, and Rugby - correction: the Sport, England, The World - is utterly lost without his supreme guidance.

Woodward, come down from your high horse, shut your trap and start delivering something.

Nick Frei, london,

Yes his Rugby innovations were zero, which is why SA and NZ followed his model after 2003 and one of them dominated the rankings for 3 years, while the other won the world cup. With respect to the Lions, in todays professional world it's unlikely the lions will ever win a test series again in NZ. You are putting a team thrown together in a few months against one that has been together for a few years (or more) and more than likely remains the best test team in the world (obviously not the best tournament team, but I expect them to put that right by 2011).

Also consider that he is entirely right about Ashton. Ashton isn't a manager, he is a good coach, like Andy Robinson before him. England need a good manager and a good coaching team, just as the world cup winners 2007 have had for the past couple of years.

Robinson, London, UK

Just remember Woodward is the man who 'masterminded' the British Lions getting utterly thrashed in New Zealand in 2005. He also took England to the 1999 World Cup, where we got hammered too. It was the players who won in 2003, not the coach!

David, St Albans, UK

Woodward is such an opportunist. He's done nothing of value since 2003, despite promoting himself as some sort of leadership guru. Rugby (Lions), football, olympics - he ought to shut up until he's delivered something of value. His 'equity' from 2003 has pretty much gone - he needs some more!!

D Gallagher, Rossendale,

Woodward walked away from rugby after the last world cup and should learn the wisdom of silence

Kevin, Penrith, Cumbria

Agree on the self-promotion bit.

He did a great job building the 2003 team but.....the only useful things I got from his book were 1. On time is 10 minutes before a meeting starts, and 2) the concept of energy-sappers........but his actually rugby innovations were ZERO!

Byron Cooper-Fogarty, London, UK

For many years I have suspected that most of what (Sir Clive) Woodward does is motivated by self-promotion - I also suspect that he still hankers after the role that Rob Andrews landed - as usual Woodward does not get his timing right to play his hand, in his terms strike while the iron is hot, as opposed to wait for the post mortems to be delivered - one thing is for certain, Woodward does not offer much for the next 8 years - best that he stick to his quasi-Olympic role, as far away from rugby as possible - he did a great job preparing for RWC 2003, but after......

Simon Allen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada