Clive Talks - Bok Manager?
Sir Clive Woodward
By Kath 13/2/04
February 13 2004
Clive talks to Zurich's Andrew Titheridge about being linked to the Bok Manager's job and about England playing their last game at 9 p.m.
For immediate release: 13 February 2004
Issued on behalf of Zurich
Zurich Daily Report with Clive Woodward
Speaking on www.zurichpremiership.com
Andrew Titheridge: Clive its Friday morning and the Italians haven't even announced their side. Does that make it difficult for you?
Clive Woodward: The rules of the competition clearly state that you don't have to announce your team until 48 hours before the game, so they will announce their team later today. We could do the same but it's a far better system for me to get it out as early as possible because once we start training as a team its very difficult to keep it secret. It just causes as much media problems by not announcing it, so its better for us to announce it and let everyone to get on with it. That's how we do it and I think it shows a lot of confidence in what we are doing. I understand the Italian team, why they are doing it but it doesn't make any difference to me, we just concentrate on the game we're going to play. 85% of the game is how we're going to play anyway and it doesn't really make any difference who we're playing against. It's interesting but no more than that.
Andrew Titheridge: People are saying this RBS Six Nations is down to England and France at the end of the season. You don't see it that way do you?
Clive Woodward: No, I never see it that way. The whole tournament has a history of wonderful surprises, that's why everyone loves it. I do believe it's the premier tournament outside the World Cup bar none, its way ahead of the Tri-Nations. Even this weekend Ireland v France, that is a close game to call, Scotland v Wales will also be a close game to call and England have got to be at their very best to beat Italy. That's why it's a great tournament and everyone loves it. I think anybody who says it'll be England v France for the final the game will be a very brave person, I certainly wouldn't say that.
Andrew Titheridge: The timing for some of these fixtures with England playing on a Sunday and that final game being at 9pm at night. Does that effect you or the team?
Clive Woodward: No I think we should accept it, its change, sometime in the future I'll be able to sit at home with my pipe and slippers watching three games on TV over a weekend and that's fantastic. I think its fantastic you can watch all the games live. We will be able to watch the games tomorrow, the other two fixtures, I think it adds to it as long as it's all in one weekend I think its fair. For all of the fixtures it's a good mix, we just play one Sunday game but the others on a Saturday at various times. I think as professional sportsmen we get used to playing at different times, the France game is at 9pm, I think it's a complete aberration but it's the same for both sides and I don't dwell on it.
Andrew Titheridge: Finally Clive, the rumour is that the South Africans have approached you and you're going to join them?
Clive Woodward: I don't know where its come from, I saw it on a website yesterday. I have never spoken to anybody from the South African Rugby Union in any shape or form and if I had I would have let the English Rugby Union know immediately, just out of common sense but they never have approached me, I've not spoken to anyone there.
People have approached me such as agents and managers and asked if I'm interested in the job but that's before I signed my contract with the Rugby Football Union and I think that's when it came from. But no more than that, I signed my contract with the RFU the day before we went to the World Cup, I'm coaching the Lions Tour and there's no better job for Clive Woodward than coaching England.
If I wasn't coaching England, yes I'd love to coach any other side including South Africa, Wales, France or anybody. It's a great job to do and a great environment to be in. But the number one job for myself is coaching England, I've signed a four year contract and that's it. So quite where the story came from I've no idea but there's no foundation to it whatsoever.
ENDS