Woodward: NZ not yet threatened by England

Woodward wrote in the Daily Mail that England are the closest side to New Zealand in terms of strength, but he does not believe they are a major threat to the All Blacks.

"This England team won't win the World Cup, although some of those playing in Sydney on Saturday will certainly provide the core of the team at the 2019 event in Japan," Woodward said of England's clean-sweep victory over the Wallabies last weekend.

"What the class of 2016 have done is restore pride, and an appreciation of the basics, and made English rugby believe in itself again. Now they must reboot and set their sights sky-high.

"Rugby might be a team sport but great teams are made up of exceptional individuals and England still have only two players – Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje – who I would select for a World XV. If England are going to win a World Cup, that figure needs to be nearer seven or eight.

"From now on, every player needs to see himself competing in his own Olympic competition to be the best in the world in his position.

"By early 2019 they should aim to be the gold medallists in their positions."

Woodward chose five All Blacks in his latest World XV – Ben Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read and Dane Coles.

Argentina had three players in the XV while first-five Owen Farrell and lock Maro Itoje were the two Englishmen that Woodward chose.

There are also two Wallabies and one Springbok in his XV.

Clive Woodward's World XV: 15 Israel Folau (Australia), 14 Ben Smith (NZ), 13 Sonny Bill Williams (NZ), 12 Wesley Fofana (France), 11 Juan Imhoff (Argentina), 10 Owen Farrell (England), 9 Aaron Smith (NZ), 8 Kieran Read (NZ), 7 David Pocock (Australia), 6 Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia), 5 Eben Etzebeth (SA), 4 Maro Itoje (England), 3 Ramiro Herrera (Argentina), 2 Dane Coles (NZ), 1 Marcos Ayerza (Argentina).

Source: Stuff.co.nz