Goode: RFU should have held onto Farrell

ENGLAND rugby bosses blundered by not ensuring Andy Farrell was groomed as Eddie Jones’ successor.

Saracens full-back Alex Goode claims the RFU should have ensured Farrell stayed at Twickenham to take over the reins.

Former defence coach Farrell was released following the disastrous home World Cup campaign which cost Stuart Lancaster his job.

He bounced back to help Ireland leap-frog England into second place in the world rankings and his success has earned him the top job when Joe Schmidt steps down next year.

The RFU start 2019 desperate to find the right man to replace Jones after Japan, and will have to splash out millions for him.

Goode said: “Andy is an ambitious man who will be head coach of Ireland and probably the Lions one day.

“It is frustrating he will not be in contention for the England job. He is a great coach and you’d like him in the England environment.

“You want the best coaches with the squad to make England the best country in the world. He is an Englishman who isn’t coaching in England and has undoubtedly learned a lot from Joe Schmidt and will take that forward with an Irish. I don’t begrudge him because the way he was treated, along with his son Owen, by some people was pretty disgraceful.

“He is a wonderful orator. As head coach he will be a bit quieter, but when he does talk people listen.”