England must change their "old-fashioned" policy of only selecting domestic-based players if they are to flourish in the future, according to World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward.
This week, Australia Rugby Union announced a tweak to their selection criteria with players that have amassed over 60 Test appearances that play outside of the country now considered.
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew stated that it is unlikely that the All Blacks will follow suit, while there has been no hint yet that England will relax their own policy.
But Woodward - who led England to World Cup glory in 2003 - believes the likes of Toulon's Steffon Armitage and Clermont Auvergne's Nick Abendanon should be made available for head coach Stuart Lancaster.
"Congratulations to Australia for seeing sense and dropping the ridiculous policy of not selecting their best players if they are playing overseas," Woodward told the Daily Mail.
"It leaves England looking old-fashioned and they need to react. Stuart Lancaster must be free to pick his best players, no matter where in the world they ply their trade.
"It's wrong to say England are best served by players at English clubs.
"Jonny Wilkinson moved to France [to play for Toulon] and became even better than when he played for England, so that completes the argument for me. Would I have picked Jonny if he was playing in France? Of course I would."
With England set to host the World Cup on home soil this year, Woodward believes that failure to change could leave the team with regrets.
"When it comes to a home World Cup, you don't want to be left talking about 'what ifs'," he added.