Clive Woodward, yet to win a Grand Slam as England coach, said today he was refusing to even contemplate defeat against Ireland this weekend.
Woodward not even contemplating defeat
Clive Woodward, yet to win a Grand Slam as England coach, said today he was refusing to even contemplate defeat against Ireland this weekend.
"I haven't even thought about defeat," Woodward told a press conference. "It's all the culmination of four years' work since the last World Cup and it all boils down to Sunday.
"Since we lost to South Africa in the (1999) World Cup we have played 34 games and won 30.
"It couldn't be a bigger game from my personal point of view. We are very clear in our minds. Monday doesn't exist, it's all about Sunday."
Woodward said the match was important for a number of reasons, including this year's World Cup in Australia.
"Winning the Grand Slam is something we haven't been able to do for the last few years with this group of players," he said.
"To add to that it's 2003. This is a very experienced team and a very experienced coaching team. It's a must-win game."
England lost their opening match to France in 1998 and were defeated in successive deciders by Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Last year they lost in the third round to France.
However, Woodward said it was not true that his team did not travel well.
"This is a chance to dispel that myth," he said. "And I think it is a myth that England are not so good away."
He also referred to the loss at Lansdowne Road in 2001 in a match held over from the regular season until October because of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic in Europe.
"I look back on two years ago and I pinch myself," he said. "We went over to Dublin on the Monday before the game and tried to cobble together a team that hadn't been together for six months.
"Then we look at the situation we are in now and we have got our strongest team."