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Former England head coach Sir Clive Woodward has deemed Brad Shields’ potential selection for England’s tour of South Africa as ‘intrinsically wrong’.
Woodward penned his thoughts in his column for Daily Mail, where he details why Shields’ selection makes little sense and urges Eddie Jones to look elsewhere.
27-year-old Hurricanes skipper Shields will move to Aviva Premiership side Wasps at the conclusion of the Super Rugby season and has sought a release from New Zealand Rugby in order to play in England’s upcoming tour.
Woodward believes that England should instead pick someone groomed through the English system.
“England reportedly want to pluck Shields out of the Super Rugby tournament, fly him 12,000 miles to here and then another 5500 to South Africa, before he returns to Wellington to complete his contract there,” writes Woodward.
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“It makes zero sense and is intrinsically wrong. If he tours South Africa it will smack of a ‘transfer’ in soccer in the January window where players sign on deadline day and play on Saturday.”
Woodward said that just because Shields is eligible for England “that doesn’t mean others should be brushed aside in the stampede to select him.
“Shields is a product of the New Zealand system, won the world championship with their under 20s, has been the captain of the Hurricanes and been talked about as a possible All Black over the years.
“Why not promote from the English game, the Premiership and the RFU’s outstanding under-20 system? Let’s make a virtue of that.
“This is not what international rugby is all about and hands a psychological advantage to New Zealand, who secretly will be finding it highly amusing – no more than that.”
“The immediate promotion of Shields would be an opportunist deviation from the standards we have set ourselves and which many players have adhered to. A worrying, confusing precedent that threatens the vital bond between England players that is the lifeblood of international rugby.”
New Zealand Rugby are yet to confirm Shields’ release.
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