Northampton Rugby

Northampton Coach Jim Mallinder is tipped by many to succeed Martin Johnson as England’s head coach. The Saints’ boss is already giving an insight into his thoughts on the national team, and whilst refusing to criticise the England team’s leadership during the World Cup has shown he feels his back row would always have a place for Saints’ star man Tom Wood.

Wood was largely ignored by the England set up at the World Cup, playing only in the pool stage demolition jobs of Georgia and Romania. Aging skipper Lewis Moody was preferred to Wood in all of England’s other games. Since returning to Northampton after the World Cup though Wood has been in fine form. Never more so than in this weekend’s blitzing of champions Saracens, where Wood was named Man of the Match in a 30-8 victory for Northampton.

Wood played a key part in England’s successful Six Nations campaign earlier this year, featuring in every game. His emission from the side during the World Cup came as a shock to his club coach, Mallinder who said, “I don’t want to criticise selection, I don’t know how they have trained and I don’t know what England’s game plan and selection ideas were when they were away in the World Cup. What I do know is that Tom Wood is an outstanding rugby player and I would want him in my team any day.”

Mallinder is clearly an admirer of Wood’s and with the Saint’s coach widely tipped to succeed Martin Johnson as England’s top man the future could be bright for Tom Wood’s international career. Furthermore, with Lewis Moody retiring from the international game there is now a vacancy for captain in the England ranks. Wood is considered a real contender for the role and if Mallinder takes charge those chances must increase drastically.

For now though the two men’s focus remains on the Saints. Their season is going well, sitting fourth in the Premiership table and seemingly coming into form ready to push on in the second half of the season towards a potential play off campaign at the end of it. Whether Mallinder is there to see it through to its close the future of Northampton looks bright and Tom Wood will most certainly be heavily involved in it.