By Lynne Topp
September 8 2004

So the Woodward era has finally drawn to a close. Were you shocked? Probably not that much if you're anything like me. The writing has been on the wall for a while. Winning the world cup was, of course, the greatest achievement that the England team could have achieved but, sad to say, it really was a Dads Army team in some respects.

Yes I know that there is a smattering of younger players but the core of the team in Johnson, Back, Catt, and even our own Kyran amongst others were always going to want to go out with a bang. They had achieved all there was, so what motivation would be left for them realistically?

So with the heart ripped out the side pretty much, Sir Clive still seemed to want to stick to his tried and trusted team members who hadn’t retired for the 6 Nations and Summer internationals, even though the rest of the world had finally caught on to the way England played and could now beat them easily.

There are some players who have been around for a number of years, almost the favourites if you like, and no I’m not talking about HRHRH here, although he probably is included in this category. (That man is a phenomenon and never has a bad game for club or Country)

Players that should have maybe not been so readily selected. The old adage "if it ain’t broke don’t fix it" does not apply when the world has wised up to your game plan. You have to be bold. You have to be different. And you have to show class as well as guts, skill and determination.

Yes, we won the world cup but had we really been playing so well before and during the tournament. Well no, we hadn’t if we are honest and we certainly don’t look like a world cup winning side now.

Whatever you think of Woodward, he did deliver the goods for quite a while. He seemed well respected and he seemed as though he was a genuine Rugby lover. So horror or horrors when we find out that he has been cheating on us for all this time.

Did we ever suspect that he didn’t like rugby, never had, preferring football? What a betrayal. So I say go. Walk out that door and don’t turn round now. You’re not welcome anymore.

So what of the future, then? Well, I see a bright new dawn approaching, but I am an eternal optimist (Sarries to win at least every home game this season and a fair few away is my prediction).

Sir Clive’s demise is the catalyst which will allow the old to be cleared out to some extent, and the new young and hungry blood to shine if Andy Robinson lives up to expectations and is allowed to do the job. There is a wealth of talent out there just ripe for the picking, which for some time did not stand much chance because the old school reigned.

Now it’s their turn. The likes of our own Hugh Vyvyan, Richard Haughton, Dan Scarbrough, and Super Kev even, along with other home grown talent like Harry Ellis and Marcel Garvey - and these are just off the top of my head - I’m sure you can all think of plenty of others. With a sprinkling of experienced players retained to help them on their way, these guys are the real future of England Rugby.

From a selfish point of view, I hope that not too many Saracens players are included. We need them all. After all, what’s more important? Club or Country?