Sir Clive Woodward has added to the uncertainty surrounding Brian Ashton’s future as the head coach of England’s rugby union team by questioning whether he has the leadership skills to plot a path to the next World Cup in 2011.

After their defeat by South Africa in the World Cup final on Saturday, Ashton and his team returned to a warm reception at Twickenham yesterday, but Woodward’s views will fuel the debate over whether the Rugby Football Union should appoint a manager to take overall control of the England team, leaving Ashton to concentrate on coaching.

Rob Andrew, the RFU’s director of elite rugby, gave emphasis again yesterday that Ashton’s future will be decided only once a full review of England’s World Cup performance has been concluded next month.

In his column in The Times today, Woodward writes: “Brian has many attributes but, in these circumstances, the RFU is correct to take its time and examine away from the present euphoria if he is the right leader for a four-year run to the next World Cup. I use the word ‘leader’ very purposely, as it is strong leadership as well as a high-level coaching role that is required.”

Ashton’s initial one-year contract as head coach expires in December. Much debate in the next few weeks will centre on the amount of credit he deserves for the revival that followed England’s 36-0 defeat by South Africa in the pool stage.

“It was fantastic to see fortunes reversed, but it was certainly not a recipe for success,” Woodward says. “No team can expect to recover from that sort of defeat and win the tournament, so we need to ask how the world champions came to be in that position. Who made all the key selections? Who dictated the tactical approach?”

Woodward, the head coach when England won the World Cup in 2003, is also critical of Andrew’s involvement during the tournament in France. As director of elite rugby, he argues, Andrew should have been farther removed from team affairs, leaving Ashton to run the side without interference. “When you have been coach, you realise this is an absolute prerequisite,” he says. “Yet Rob has been more high-profile than Brian while England have been in France, claiming the RFU want him to do more media. There can only be one boss around any dressing-room.”

If the RFU review does recommend the appointment of a team manager to oversee a group of specialist coaches, one of the favourites for the job would be Martin Johnson, England’s World Cup-winning captain under Woodward. Johnson has played down suggestions that he should become the new figurehead of English rugby.