BBC dropped Campese clanger, says Woodward

England rugby coach, Clive Woodward, today criticised the BBC for allowing former Australia Test star David Campese to present England with a top award at the Sports Personality of the Year Show.

Campese, an outspoken critic of English rugby, presented the Team of the Year Award to England following their World Cup success.

But England’s World Cup-winning coach Woodward has described that move as “a crass decision”.

England cleaned up at the awards ceremony on Sunday, with fly-half Jonny Wilkinson winning Sports Personality of the Year, while Woodward was named Coach of the Year and skipper Martin Johnson finished second behind Wilkinson.

“I thought it was an error by the BBC – it was a bad judgement on their behalf,” said Woodward, after naming his team today for the World Cup celebration match against the New Zealand Barbarians at Twickenham next weekend.

“It’s typical of British sport but when you achieve something fantastic, someone tries to make a joke out of it.

“Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Steven Redgrave, George Cohen and Princess Anne were there – all of those people could have presented the trophy,” Woodward added.

“To pick a guy, who in international rugby, has got little or no respect, was a bad error of judgement by the BBC.

“Having said that, ITV had him on as well. It was a bit of a crass decision by somebody.”

Campese, a World Cup with the Wallabies 12 years ago, is currently in London and yesterday paraded along Oxford Street displaying a sandwich board with the words “I admit, the best team won”.

The publicity stunt was arranged by bookmakers Ladbrokes after they challenged Campese to eat humble pie if England won the World Cup.

Woodward today named a side containing five of his World Cup final starting line-up for the Barbarians encounter.

Full-back Jason Robinson, wing Ben Cohen, prop Trevor Woodman, hooker Steve Thompson and skipper Richard Hill will all feature in a team devoid of star names such as Wilkinson, Johnson and Lawrence Dallaglio.

Twelve of the World Cup squad will start, while there are also opportunities for Gloucester wing James Simpson-Daniel, Leicester centre Ollie Smith and 21-year-old Bath prop Matt Stevens.

Stevens was born in South Africa, but qualifies through his English father Russell, and is currently rated one of the Zurich Premiership’s brightest young talents.

Stevens represented South Africa at under-18, under-19 and under-21 levels, but he has now committed himself to England, and his progress will be monitored with interest. He gets his chance after Phil Vickery withdrew because of a rib injury.

Despite Woodward having limited selection options – he could only pick a maximum of three players from each Premiership club – he is delighted with the team on show.

There is one fitness doubt on the bench, with Sale Sharks’ Charlie Hodgson facing tests this week after suffering a bang on his knee during Sharks’ Heineken Cup game in Biarritz last weekend.

Hodgson, who missed the World Cup because of injury, is currently on the bench but Woodward will search for a replacement if he is ruled out.