England legend slams Henry Pollock's continued trolling after France loss

Even at the age of just 21, the Northampton Saints back-row has become a pantomime villain, particularly for those across the Channel, due to his on-field persona.

Pollock was booed when he was shown on the screen in the stadium and then when he entered the field in the second half of England's defeat to France in the Six Nations on Saturday.

In response, the youngster put his finger to his lips and cupped his ear when Tommy Freeman's converted try put the visitors ahead with just a couple of minutes remaining.

However, it was the French supporters who would have the last laugh when Thomas Ramos' late penalty, which followed a Pollock error about a minute earlier, snatched a 48-46 victory at the Stade de France.

"I would definitely sit down Henry Pollock for more than a chat. All players have to do their talking on the pitch," Woodward wrote in his Daily Mail column.

"Pollock's baiting of the French crowd would have been fine if he had been on from the start and was delivering a world-class performance. But he hadn't, and then he threw a silly pass which gave France the ball back, and from it Thomas Ramos' penalty won them the game.

"He is a brilliant player and I would want the real Pollock in the team, but not the current one who is fast becoming a liability. That has to change and quickly."

Woodward also picked out Fin Smith's place-kicking as something which needs rectifying after it cost England in the Six Nations finale.

Smith was only successful with two of his conversions, with the other three wide of the upright.

Marcus Smith came on to add the extras to the final two tries but those three misses proved crucial in the end result.

"England have to find a world-class goalkicker. Last weekend they did not have one and France did. End of story. It's one of the basics of the game but England aren't good enough at it yet and they can't win a World Cup without a top marksman," Woodward added.

"When I was England coach, I hired the best kicking coach in the world in Dave Alred full-time and he got to work with one of the best with the boot the game has ever seen in Jonny Wilkinson. Paul Grayson, who was back-up to Wilkinson, was just as good off the tee.

"Jonny works in camp with England today on a part-time basis. Could further expertise be added in this area? It's harsh to single out Fin Smith, but he missed three kicks at goal in Paris which were costly."