Clive Talks-Visualisations & mentally rehearsing!
Sir Clive Woodward
By Kath 20/2/04
February 20 2004
Sir Clive Woodward England's Head Coach talks to Zurich's Andrew Titheridge about mentally rehearsing & visualisations, and the England players walk-about up and down Edinburgh's famous Princes Street.
For immediate
release: 20 February 2004
Issued on behalf of Zurich
Zurich Report with Clive Woodward
Speaking on www.zurichpremiership.com
Andrew Titheridge: Scotland have named their side and have made only 2
changes, does that surprise you after their defeat against Wales?
Clive Woodward: No, after the first game you want to show some
continuity in selection as a coach, but I thought White did particularly well
when he came on and I was quite surprised he didn't start against Wales so his
selection is pretty predictable, he's a good player, we know him well because
he's up at Zurich Premiership club Sale. He plays with Chris Jones and
Alex Sanderson who are in England's 22.
There's a guy called Webster who they've put on the wing, we've just seen him on
the tapes, and he gains his first cap. So their new coach is bringing on a few
new players early in his career. We were confident White was going to play
but Webster we don't know a lot about to be frank.
Andrew Titheridge: And talking of coaches, he is an Australian, the new
Scottish coach, Matt Williams, and he's asked the Scottish supporters to applaud
the world champions onto the pitch. Do you think he's mad Clive?
Clive Woodward: (laughter) There is very little chance of that happening,
but I know what he's trying to say. These English v Scottish clashes are
different and you kind of like all the spice that goes with it. If they were to
clap the team on that would be nice but I can't see it happening somehow.
And I'm not bothered, to be frank.
Andrew Titheridge: Clive, what is the programme between now and the
match, do you have a full on training session today?
Clive Woodward: We meet this morning and actually train at a
school in private if we can. I prefer to do these things in private. Its just a
very light run out, its just stretching their legs and the guys had a complete
day off yesterday and I haven't seen them since Wednesday evening. We then
go to Murrayfield this afternoon for about an hour and a half, mainly for the
kickers to practice.
The guys just wander round. We do all sorts of exercises but we do get the
guys to go to the top of the stands just to get a whole visualisation of the
size of the stadium. So that hour is very very important and they just
generally go around in groups talking to each other, and mentally rehearsing the
whole thing.
Meanwhile the kickers, Grayson, Gomarsall and Henry Paul and Olly Barkley,
they'll be working with Dave Alred just on the goal kicking so everyone else
keeps out of their way. Its important that the kickers get a real feeling
of the stadium while the rest of the team are just getting their brain in gear.
It's a very important hour and a half.
Andrew Titheridge:: The players had a day off and a lot of them walked up
and down Princes Street. It's a very different mind set for them with so
many people now asking for their autographs. Whereas a few years ago
they'd probably be totally ignored. They have to react very differently
don't they?
Clive Woodward: They
wouldn't have been ignored, they'd probably have been pushed over! It has
all changed, you get this in every international, not just England v Scotland.
You hear a lot of the commentators particularly the ex players - they're just
living in the past and you have to chuckle at a lot of the things they say.
They're just living their own playing
days but its totally changed. But the thought of the players wandering up
and down Princes Street and having a cup of coffee, it is how it should be but
its really all about what happens on the pitch. The hype that goes into
the newspapers, especially from some of the ex players who build it up beyond
what it really is, is something
that happened in the past but we're only interested in what happens on the
pitch. I've been doing this job for 6 years and you learn as you go along.
We're pretty clear how we prepare for this, a lot of its between the ears as to
how you prepare, especially the last 24 hours. But that's good, that's
what we encourage, that's why we stay right in the middle of town and we try and
find the best hotel and this one's fantastic, The Balmoral. We're
very relaxed, just ready to explode at 5.30 on Saturday afternoon.
Andrew Titheridge: If I could change the subject slightly, you judged the
Zurich Rugby Photographic Awards this week, with double the number of entries
this year. Its probably quite difficult considering the quality of the pictures?
Clive Woodward: It was very difficult but very enjoyable.
There were four categories - one was the Spirit of Rugby. We picked about
a dozen shots in each. It held a lot of memories because 2003 was a
fantastic year for the England team and for myself. Reliving the memories
through some great shots. We think we work well with the media, the written
media is quite straightforward along with the radio and TV, but you sometimes
forget the photographers although we see more of the photographers than anyone
else.
They can be complete pains at times but in general we get on with them very
well. They're only doing their job and when you see the shots in the
newspapers and the magazines they do a tremendous job for the sport.
I know it's a big award for them, just like us all its very competitive, there's
a lot of outstanding photographers involved with this, but it was great, some
brilliant shots and well done to Zurich. Zurich have the ability to find
those who aren't the obvious supporters of rugby. Photographers are a very very
key part of our game.
Andrew Titheridge: Luckily the public will be able to see the
photographs at the Museum of Rugby in Twickenham in April, May and June?
Clive Woodward: Yes I think that the idea is that they put
all 44 shots out. Its well worth seeing and is an excellent competition.
ENDS