Barkley answers England kicker call
Bath fly-half Barkley will line up in today's RBS 6 Nations Championship appointment with Wales at Twickenham as replacement for injured goalkicker Paul Grayson.
And England's coaching think-tank of Woodward, Andy Robinson and Phil Larder immediately got behind the 22-year-old, whose first three caps were all won as a replacement against the USA, then Italy and Ireland this term.
Barkley lost his place on the bench when Woodward preferred Mike Catt, but Barkley's superior goalkicking he is the Zurich Premiership's top points-scorer this season gave him an advantage to claim calf muscle victim Grayson's number 10 jersey.
"It is disappointing for Paul, but we are looking forward to seeing Olly Barkley start for England," said Woodward.
"Mike Catt does not come into the side because of the goalkicking issue. You must have a recognised goalkicker in international rugby, and Matt Dawson will be Olly's back-up kicker against Wales.
"Olly's strike-rate at Bath is very good. He's in on merit, and you have to take your chances when they come.
"He played well when he came on against Italy in Rome, so I have no fears about him. He's a natural left-footed kicker, which brings a balance, as he has a number of right-footed kickers around him."
Coach Robinson added: "The job of our forwards is to ensure Olly gets the ball going forward. He has a very good head, and the goalkicking comes naturally to him.
"He had pressure kicks for Bath last season. If he'd missed them, then Bath were down and it could have been the end of the club. He had the nerve to do the job."
And defence specialist Larder has no doubt that Barkley, whose goalkicking style bears a striking similarity to Jonny Wilkinson's, will play an effective defensive role if England find themselves under pressure today.
"When I saw Olly playing for Bath (against Leeds last month), I was disappointed with his defence, but fortunately, so was he," said Larder.
"There was a tendency to go high, when he should have gone lower. But it has been worked on he is a hard worker."
In the meantime, Wales national coach-in-waiting, Mike Ruddock, has sent his best wishes to the Welsh team as they prepare to face England.
The Gwent Dragons coach was named as the successor to Steve Hansen as national coach last week and will take up his appointment in May ahead of the uncapped match against the Barbarians and the summer tour to Argentina and South Africa.
He said: "I've always supported Wales whenever and wherever they have played, but I will be watching today's game with extra interest.
"It is going to be a huge test of the Welsh team as a whole, players and coaches, but I'm sure they will rise to the challenge."
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