RWC2015 PHIL VICKERY EXCLUSIVE: It's time to bring Clive Woodward back

Following failures at World Cups or Six Nations, the likes of Andy Robinson, Brian Ashton and Martin Johnson have all paid the price with their jobs.

But the one constant in that time has been the person in overall charge of the national set-up: Rob Andrew.

There has to be more accountability at the top rather than just keep changing coaches.

Something in the set-up is not quite right and serious questions have to be asked.

If England rugby is going to recover and start leading the way, there is one person with the skills, talent, ambition and track record – Clive Woodward.

It was he – along with some great coaches and fantastic players – who created an England team who were the best in the world and it is he who has the knowledge to create a blueprint to take England back there.

But will the RFU be happy to deal with such a strong character? Probably not.

Woodward is clever and innovative but he would want complete power and control to implement his ideas otherwise he won’t be interested.

It all depends how much the RFU want a strong England team because if the job came with a list of caveats, Clive would not be interested.

Things just aren’t working and we are no nearer knowing what the best England team is or who our best players are.

That’s something Rob Andrew needs to take a close look at because we have had success at U20 levels and our women are very strong.

The RFU will have to be brave and look at every area of the game and work out how it wants to take rugby forward at the elite level.

Woodward fits the bill perfectly – but only if the RFU are willing to pick the best people for the job and not just those singing from the same hymn sheet as them.

Give him the power to implement changes – he came back from the disappointment of 1999 World Cup defeat with a plan.

His quest for perfection – even now – is well known and although I am not saying it’s time to get rid of Stuart Lancaster, it is time to bring Clive Woodward back on board in some manner.

Lancaster’s biggest problem is that he tripped himself by insisting he would pick the best team based on form then proceeded to select Sam Burgess.

I have already said what I think of Burgess – he’s a good player – but he has nowhere near enough experience in rugby union to merit a place in the England team.

That’s what I mean about picking the best team for the job.

The fact is that I am Mr England – I love my team and I will support them every time but there have been alarm bells ringing for some time.

We seem to have gone backwards in the last six months and it’s been a long time since I watched England play and could take nothing from the match.

But there were no positives to be drawn from the way Australia completely outclassed us, except perhaps Jonathan Joseph’s display.

The Aussies deserved everything they got – that’s what being world class is all about and demonstrated how far behind the very best we are.

Let’s face it, England have won nothing since Martin was in charge and that more than four years ago.

I do not want to seem overly negative and I feel deeply sorry for the fans, coaches and players – but what we saw from those England boys on the pitch simply wasn’t good enough.

The lack of character we showed was the thing that frustrated me the most.

Only when the match was effectively lost did some of our players start to get eggy and you cannot blame that on the coaches.

Was it pressure or lack of ability?

As Tom Wood said after the match, we had three and half years to prepare for this World Cup not just three weeks, so to have been knocked out so early is doubly heartbreaking.

You have to say that Australia were outstanding – that is what being world class is all about.

We were exposed for the level we are currently playing at as a national team.

Even if that team had performed to its very best, we would not have coped with the level Australia reached.

We needed passion and aggression from the start but we didn’t show either.

I do not expect Lancaster to quit during the World Cup despite the result but before everyone starts pointing the finger of blame they need to step back as emotion clouds judgment.

I have been very critical of the RFU in the past but I cannot fault they way they have organized this World Cup.

They have done a great job and from what I have seen, the coaching team has apparently been impressive too.

But the World Cup goes on and I will be backing the home nations now and am looking forward to seeing my team of the tournament – Georgia – just one more time.

The way they played against New Zealand summed up what has been a brilliant World Cup so far – the quality of rugby has been superb, the organization has been perfect and the only thing I’ve not enjoyed is England’s results.

Phil Vickery was talking to Mark Lawford