Clive Woodward's Pre Match Thoughts form Zurich

By Ouseburn 17/6/03 1430
June 20 2003

Press Release: Courtesy of Zurich. Clive's Views on Saturday's match against the World Cup Champions Australia. With a Northern Hemisphere Referee he feels quite confident

Andrew Titheridge: Considering the pressure of that game the other night surprisingly few injuries?

Clive Woodward: Because its test matches players always want to play in the next one, and the knocks and bruises seem to heal quicker than when within the club environment, a knock that might take you out of your next club game, they're in such a competitive environment they all seem to come through well. Simon Shaw is flying home today, he got a knock in the neck during the Maori game, that is the only serious injury we have had, and he is going back to have a scan on his neck. Everybody will be fit for the weekend and we will go into the game with a very strong team, its going to be a huge night for us.

AT: And the referee quite surprisingly is a Northern hemisphere referee, David McHugh, he is much more used to the Zurich Premiership style of play than the Super 12.That must benefit England, doesn’t it?

CW: I don't think so, the international referees now are pretty much as one in the style that they referee the game, wherever you are. I think there is a difference between the Zurich Premiership and the Super 12, but when we have had the same referee that has referred those games in England they have all been fine to be fair. We have the meetings beforehand and the referees have been fine, the thing that worries me is the touch judge. They have a huge role to play and again there was a bad incident the other weekend and the touch judge missed it. So they have a big role to play, but we have no problem with David McHugh, the Australian media will put him under pressure as they normally do which are normal tactics the week before the game, I am sure he is big enough to handle the various taunts he will get in the press.

AT: It's a great stadium, the roof can be open or closed, do you think that the team would prefer the roof open or closed?

CW: With conditions being very, very poor it would be very difficult to play a Test match [without the roof closed]. And whilst the players may train in the rain this week, we know, come Saturday night, it will be perfect

Transcript courtesy of Zurich for more...www.zurichpremiership.com