Woodward sulks over Campese 'error'

Published on Wednesday 17 December 2003 00:00

CLIVE Woodward has criticised the BBC for allowing Wallaby legend David Campese to present England with a top award at the Sports Personality of the Year Show.

Campese, an outspoken critic of English rugby, presented the Team of the Year Award to England following their World Cup success.

But England’s World Cup-winning coach Woodward has described that move as "a crass decision".

England cleaned up at the awards ceremony on Sunday, with fly-half Jonny Wilkinson winning Sports Personality of the Year, while Woodward was named Coach of the Year and skipper Martin Johnson finished second behind Wilkinson.

"I thought it was an error by the BBC - it was a bad judgment on their behalf," said Woodward, after naming his team yesterday for the World Cup celebration match against the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham next weekend.

"It’s typical of British sport but when you achieve something fantastic, someone tries to make a joke out of it.

"Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Steven Redgrave, George Cohen and Princess Anne were there - all of those people could have presented the trophy," Woodward added.

"To pick a guy, who in international rugby, has got little or no respect, was a bad error of judgment by the BBC."

Campese, the most prolific try scorer in international rugby history and a World Cup winner with the Wallabies 12 years ago, paraded along Oxford Street in London on Monday displaying a sandwich board with the words "I admit, the best team won".

The BBC responded to Woodward’s criticism with surprise, insisting the matter had not been raised on the night by the Rugby Football Union. A spokesman said: "This is news to us. We are a little surprised by this as the RFU thanked us yesterday for a fantastic evening.

"There was no offence intended, however, if it makes everyone feel better, Peter Salmon, BBC’s director of sport, has offered to walk round Twickenham wearing a sandwich board apologising for any offence caused."

Woodward yesterday named a side containing five of his World Cup final starting line-up for the Barbarians encounter.

Full-back Jason Robinson, wing Ben Cohen, prop Trevor Woodman, hooker Steve Thompson and skipper Richard Hill will all feature in a team devoid of star names such as Wilkinson, Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio.

Twelve of the World Cup squad will start, while there are also opportunities for Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel, Leicester centre Ollie Smith and 21-year-old Bath prop Matt Stevens.

Stevens, who was born in South Africa, but qualifies through his English father Russell, gets his chance after Phil Vickery withdrew because of a rib injury.

There is one fitness doubt on the bench, with Sale Sharks’ Charlie Hodgson facing tests this week after suffering a bang on his knee during Sharks’ Heineken Cup game in Biarritz last weekend.

England XV (to play New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham on Saturday): J Robinson (Sale); J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), O Smith (Leicester), S Abbott (Wasps), B Cohen (Northampton); P Grayson (Northampton), A Gomarsall (Gloucester); T Woodman (Gloucester), S Thompson (Northampton), M Stevens (Bath), D Grewcock (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), M Corry (Leicester), R Hill (Saracens, capt), J Worsley (Wasps). Substitutes: M Regan (Leeds), A Sheridan (Sale), H Vyvyan (Newcastle), P Sanderson (Harlequins), K Bracken (Saracens), C Hodgson (Sale), M Tindall (Bath).