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

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