Clive Talks - Discipline of Players!
Sir Clive Woodward
By Kath 5/3/04
March 5 2004
Sir Clive Woodward England's Head Coach talks to Zurich's Andrew Titheridge about England players' discipline and the Ireland match.
For immediate release: 5 March 2004
Issued on behalf of Zurich
Zurich Daily Report with Clive Woodward
Speaking on www.zurichpremiership.com
Andrew Titheridge: Once again football is in the spotlight, there is a
spot of bother in Spain with the Leicester players. As far as rugby is concerned
at international level you put great store on discipline don't you?
Sir Clive Woodward: Definitely, a huge store. We talk about it a
lot, even before the World Cup, it is not just being in the spotlight when you
play for England, you are in the spot light 365 days of the year when you play
for England and you cannot afford to be doing anything that is wrong.
Basically you have got to take your responsibilities very seriously because if
you do step out of line you will become front page news and we always use the
term we want to be back page news not front page news. So the players take it
very seriously and when you become an England player it is for 365 days of the
year and we are very lucky that we have a group of players that take their
responsibilities very seriously. It is not just about being an international sportsman, but being a sportsman generally as they become a role
model back at their clubs. We have to keep reminding them about this they are
young guys, things do happen especially when you are away and you just have to
keep reminding them that they are potential targets as well.
Andrew Titheridge: Turning to the Irish game, there seems to be a bigger
intensity in training, players are obviously up for the game.
Clive Woodward:: Yes there is a bigger edge to this game. Especially when
you hear words coming across from Ireland like 'are England tough enough for
this game?' That was quite a good media story coming over the Irish sea! We know
that this is the biggest challenge since the World Cup final, Ireland are a very
strong side and we are playing our first competitive game at Twickenham so there
is a bit of an edge. We have made a few changes, some forced some otherwise and
that always adds a bit of edge to the team. We are really looking forward to the
game, the weather forecast is good and like every game at Twickenham it is just
going to be a magnificent occasion. We all get involved in this game as though
this is going to be our last game, that is the only way to approach it and there
has been a real edge this week. I am really looking forward to this game as much
as ever as being in charge of the England team.
Andrew Titheridge: There should be a special atmosphere as this is
the first test or competitive match at Twickenham for nearly a year, rugby has
changed dramatically and it's the World Champions walking out onto the pitch.
Clive Woodward: There are two things, we haven't been back at Twickenham
for nearly a year, as you say it is the first time we have been back as World
Champions with our full strength side playing, so it is going to be a huge
atmosphere and it is a real competitive game. This isn't a game that England
expect to win by a hatful of points, this is a real game that we are going into.
We have the utmost respect for the Irish team who with a little more composure
would have beaten the Australians in the World Cup but that is the difference
between winning and losing. So it is going to be a great day and the players
know that as well. That is why it is great doing this job, motivation doesn't
come into this game you almost have to calm things down, keep people talking
about the process, the performance and not about the occasion. So it will be a
great day. It is kind of a new start for England, it is our first home game, we
have redecorated the changing room thanks to some help from O2. I read an
interesting line from Brian O'Driscoll saying England can only go one way and I
am absolutely sure that England can go two ways and I am absolutely sure that
England are going to move on strongly from the World Cup. We have made changes
to our team, our dressing room to make people realise that the World Cup is
over, it is a new era, a new captain, a new team. And we are very much looking
forward to meeting O'Driscoll and his team tomorrow.
Andrew Titheridge: Just a word about the Zurich Photographic Awards, an
incredible standard from the pictures last night.
Clive Woodward: Yes, I was one of the judges I looked at the photos a
couple of weeks ago and it brought back a lot of memories and the pictures were
brilliant. You talk about the media and the journalists but the
photographers are just as important. What's that saying? a picture tells a
thousand words. They were fantastic photos and those pictures of the World Cup
just bring back the memories. So, well done to Zurich one of the great sponsors
of the game for moving into that side of our business.
Andrew Titheridge: Tom Jenkins a worthy winner?
Clive Woodward: There were two great shots for me, the one of Wilkinson
on the final whistle which I think was my individual favourite. But overall
winning shot of Wilkinson going down the tunnel and he was obviously going to
the guy to be photographed but his body language as he goes down the tunnel just
shows everything about the kind of guy that he is. It was great to be there last
night and great to meet all the photographers and well done to Zurich.
ENDS