Austin Healey believes England require an injection of ego in their coaching set-up, and has called for Clive Woodward to return as director of rugby.

A humiliating early exit from the Rugby World Cup, ahead of England's final pool match against Uruguay on Saturday, has left Stuart Lancaster's position as coach under threat.

Healey, capped 51 times by England during his playing career, does not expect Lancaster to be retained.

And the former Leicester Tigers man has called on the Rugby Football Union (RFU) to consider a change in direction and the reappointment of Woodward, who oversaw England's only previous World Cup triumph in 2003.

Referencing speculation linking Eddie Jones to a role with England, Healey wrote in the Telegraph: "As an Englishman, I want an Englishman in charge.

"A few have already said they are not interested but the only Englishman who has not ruled himself out - he says he has, but he hasn't - is Clive Woodward.

"Give him the director of rugby brief, replace Rob Andrew and let him [Woodward] do what he does best which is finding the best people to run the team.

"The other two guys I think should be considered candidates are [Bath coach] Mike Ford and [Sale director of rugby] Steve Diamond. They have the ego and ability you need to carry the role off.

"People will laugh at that, but England have lacked an ego who says we set benchmarks, we don’t follow them.

"Unfortunately, England have been followers for far too long. England need a hard ego who can carry the whole shebang and ride the wagon. I think both [Ford or Diamond] would be brilliant.

"Being in charge of England is not about making friends, it is about keeping people on edge so they play much better than if they stay in their comfort zone. That’s what we have missed for a while now - ego, character, planning and, dare I say it, maybe just a bit of long-term player development within our own sport."