Wallaby coach Jones backs Woodward’s Lions plans

CLIVE Woodward’s old sparring partner, the Australia coach Eddie Jones, has backed his decision to take a 26-strong management team on next summer’s Lions tour to New Zealand.

Woodward took the decision to name separate coaching teams for the midweek and test squads after studying where the 2001 Lions tour to Australia had failed.

His policy "two sets of coaches, one playing squad" has been derided in some quarters, with former All Black great Colin Meads describing it as a "ridiculous waste of money".