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Grand Slam harder than ever Posted: Saturday February 15, 2003 7:36 AM
Clive Woodward tells Rugby World's Paul Morgan why he won't be taking the 2003 RBS Six Nations lightly. THE Rugby World Cup casts a long shadow over the 2003 RBS Six Nations, but spend a few minutes with Clive Woodward and you are in no doubt about his priorities for the coming months. "The Six Nations is not the place to experiment," says Woodward. "It is a brilliant tournament, incredibly hard to win, and ideal in a World Cup year. "I think that this year -- with the results in the autumn for all the home nations -- it will be harder to win a Grand Slam than ever before." England come into the tournament as favorites -- as they have done for the last four years -- and that tag is justifiable after their incredible run in November. No side had ever beaten the three southern hemisphere giants in the same calendar year -- let alone in three successive weeks -- before England did it last November. "Of course we are delighted with the way it went in the autumn. To win those three games was a massive boost," Woodward says. "We did, of course, play them at the right time in terms of our season, and they were all at Twickenham, so we have to make sure we enjoy those wins but keep our feet firmly on the ground. "We will know more about our standing against those sides from the southern hemisphere in June, when we have played New Zealand and Australia in their own country." A huge bonus for Woodward in November was the return to form of Martin Johnson, who was left out of some matches in last year's Six Nations. "I thought Martin Johnson was tremendous throughout those autumn Internationals. Last year he wasn't anywhere near the Martin Johnson we know and I left him out on merit, but crucially he needed a summer off and when he got that, he was back to his best. "Another player who stood out was Lewis Moody. He has played for England before but these matches were his first time against the big boys and he came through it well. He showed he is very much suited to this level." And to dispel any doubts about who would wear the skipper's armband in the RBS Six Nations and the World Cup, Woodward added: "If selected then Johnno is my captain. But they all know they have to get in on merit." The side -- and most crucially its preparation and outlook -- is unrecognisable from when Woodward took over in 1997. Then they couldn't live with New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, but now they're beating them on a regular basis. "We have made great strides in the last few years but it is not down to Clive Woodward. We have a great coaching team and a hugely talented group of players that have been nurtured in the Zurich Premiership," Woodward says. "I head up a coaching team of Andy Robinson, Phil Larder and Dave Alred, and we are all genuinely excited about the prospect of what 2003 holds." But despite everything, he doesn't have a Grand Slam. Does that rankle? "Not having a Grand Slam doesn't worry me," he says. "Coaching England is not about winning Slams. "What would annoy me is if myself, Andy Robinson and the RFU weren't throwing the kitchen sink at this Six Nations and the World Cup. "In international rugby you can only focus on the next game - anything else is a recipe for disaster and if Grand Slams come, then they come." To win that Grand Slam they will have to hit the ground running as France -- last year's champions -- are first up. "We've beaten the three southern hemisphere sides, so to play France next means we will play the best four teams in the world in successive matches. Who could want a better and bigger challenge than that? "France have come on so much in the last three years and facing the likes of them is the reason why I do this job. And I know the French are looking forward to it as well! "It will be a huge challenge but I'm delighted it is the first game. I believe it will help us keep up the momentum of the autumn and slip into gear early in the Six Nations. "France were the only team to beat us in 2002. They beat us fair and square in Paris, but I believe England were stale and tired in that match. It won't be the same at Twickenham.
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