WORLD CUP-WINNER Will Greenwood last night warned England manager Martin Johnson could end up being sacked unless he makes immediate changes to his coaching staff.
Greenwood has joined his former England team-mate Josh Lewsey in criticising the influence assistant coaches Mike Ford and John Wells are having on the squad.
The former Harlequins centre believes Johnson’s coaching team have failed to get the best out of England’s players and he also called for Steve Borthwick to be replaced as captain.
“I think Johnson will stay and I think that is the right thing to do – but he has to make some seriously hard decisions,” said Greenwood.
“He has to look at his captain and he has to look his coaching staff.
“My opinion would be that were he to stay with this captain and were he to stay with this coaching staff then it will only be a matter of time before Johnson will get dragged down with them.”
England opened their autumn campaign with an 18-9 defeat to Australia before labouring to a 16-9 victory over Argentina last weekend and face New Zealand tomorrow.
Greenwood continued: “I said after the game last week that I thought it was the worst attacking display I had seen from an England team in a long, long time.
“I wondered if I had been too harsh – but when I went home and watched the game again I could have been harsher. There was a catalogue of errors; they looked like they had never met.
“The coaches have to create an environment where guys can come in, feel comfortable and translate their club form on to an international field and we are stunting the ability.”
Prop Wian du Preez will make his international debut against Italy on Saturday after being named as one of four changes to world champions South Africa’s pack for the test in Udine.
Springboks coach Peter de Villiers was forced to make two of the changes from last week’s starters in the 20-13 defeat by France.
Hooker Bismarck du Plessis and flanker Schalk Burger are injured and their places are taken by Adriaan Strauss and Danie Rossouw.
Du Preez (27) comes in at loosehead for Tendai Mtawarira, who drops down to the bench along with lock Victor Matfield who has been replaced by Andries Bekker.
Italy coach Nick Mallett has made five changes to the starting lineup that caused New Zealand problems last weekend.
Matteo Pratichetti replaces winger Kaine Robertson, Alberto Sgarbi takes Gonzalo Canale’s place at outside centre and Simon Picone comes in at scrumhalf for Tito Tebaldi to form a half-back partnership with rugby league-convert Craig Gower.
Fixtures:Tonight: British Irish Cup: Coventry v Munster A, Butts Stadium (7.45pm); Ulster Ravens v Bedford Blues (7.30pm). International: Scotland A v Tonga, 7.30pm. English Premiership: Gloucester v Leicester, 7.45pm; Worcester v Bath, 8pm.
