Tom Wood was being tipped as a future England captain not long ago but, as he watches the Six Nations on catch-up while he focuses on helping Northampton secure a place in the play-offs, he has revealed how the national coach, Eddie Jones, does not sugar-coat disappointment.
The flanker, who has won 42 caps, was a fixture in the England side under Jones’s predecessor, Stuart Lancaster, and led the side on the 2013 tour to Argentina in Chris Robshaw’s absence. He has had one conversation with Jones, two months ago, and there was nothing apologetic in the Australian’s tone as he told Wood he was going to be left out of the squad.
“He was pretty blunt,” said Wood. “I had been injured at the time and thought in my mind that was a legitimate excuse but he said that what he had seen from me had not been good enough, distinctly average if I remember. He said what he looked for from his No6 was a world-class work-rate and he did not see that in me. I questioned that, politely, wished him well for the tournament and said I would be doing my best to get back in there.
“It did come as a surprise and my initial reaction was to be aggressive back. It dawned on me that he was probably doing it for a reason and he’s done it to others. I did question it and say to him that I did not take criticism lightly and I don’t agree with that, but I can see I am not going to change your mind on the phone right now so I have to get back playing and prove my case. That is what I have set about doing. I know I have no entitlement and have to earn it all over again.”
The pair have not spoken since but Wood, whose aim is to be included in the squad for the summer tour to Australia, hopes to get feedback from Jones after the end of the Six Nations. “I had setbacks in my junior days and they put me in good stead,” he said. “England have good competition in the back row and I have got to give them a selection headache.
“I do not want to say that not being involved with England has been a good thing for me because I am desperate to be involved but I was at the coalface with England for a number of years and it is a white-hot, intense environment. I have been able to step back from that and re-evaluate things, enjoy some family time and play club rugby where you know where you are week in, week out, out of the intensity a little bit. It has allowed me to enjoy it and I hope to use that as a springboard.”
Wood was to the fore as Northampton avenged their home defeat by Saracens in November to become the first opposition side to win here three times before next month’s return in the European Champions Cup quarter-final. They scored two tries without reply and squandered a third when Ben Foden dropped the ball over the line.
“It was a good win but far from complete,” said Wood. “We know that Saracens were missing some significant individuals who will be back next month so we are not going to get ahead of ourselves. We know we will have to be better than we were today when we play them in the quarter-final. There is a great rivalry between the clubs.
“This is the toughest Premiership campaign I have been involved in with no gimmes or whipping boys this season. You have got to be really on it every game and it is difficult to stay up there emotionally every week when there is no let-up.”
Saracens were some way below full strength because of international call-ups, injuries and suspensions. They felt able to use only four replacements and, although this was their fourth league match in seven without a victory after opening with eight straight wins, the champions’ director of rugby, Mark McCall, was not downcast.
“Our big stuff, such as energy and physicality, was good and we defended much better,” he said. “We got a lot of small things wrong but we fronted up for 80 minutes in a tremendously challenging period for us. We will have the cavalry back for the last five games and I do not think this defeat will have an impact on next month’s quarter-final.”
