Sir Clive Woodward says England have lost their way & called for Cipriani to start

By Sky Sports Rugby

Image: Elliot Daly in the aftermath of England's fifth successive Test defeat

The England rugby team appear to have lost their way, according to Sir Clive Woodward who has called for Danny Cipriani to now start at fly-half.

The former World Cup-winning manager was reacting on Sky Sports to England's 23-12 Test series defeat to South Africa in Bloemfontein.

And Woodward said that current manager Eddie Jones needs to look in the mirror after his side fell to a sixth consecutive defeat.

"Knowing Eddie quite well, I know he'll be hurting and I thought he interviewed quite well there, but he's got to keep his cool and have a good luck in the mirror himself," said Woodward.

"It's okay to grieve, he's got to feel sorry for himself for 24 hours and get back on the horse on Monday morning."

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Sir Clive Woodward says Eddie Jones must pick Danny Cipriani at fly-half for the third Test

Woodward added. "But he's got to look at himself now in terms of what he's actually doing. I wouldn't have been playing the way England have been tactically playing.

"If you started off the game and said; okay, South Africa have scored 23 points, I would take that. This team should score more than 23 points against this South Africa team.

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"It's kind of there but I just think they've lost their way and it's quite sad to see in the end."

South Africa wrapped up the summer Test series a week early after England made the perfect start, with tries from Mike Brown and Jonny May putting them 12-0 ahead inside 13 minutes.

But South Africa responded via a Duane Vermeulen try and two Handre Pollard penalties before a penalty try in the second half secured the winning platform.

Ben Youngs cut his post-match interview short after England fell to another Test defeat in Bloemfontein

England's frustration was obvious on the final whistle with Ben Youngs abruptly cutting short his after-match interview with Sky Sports for which he later apologised.

"You just cannot react like that, you don't do that to anyone from the media and I'm really disappointed," added Woodward.

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