3 hours ago
10
I can honestly say that the best night of my life as a rugby coach came on June 14, 2003 when England beat the All Blacks for the first time on New Zealand soil in 30 years.
I’ll never forget that match or what happened after. It surpassed the night we won that year’s World Cup and will live with me forever. Jonny Wilkinson kicked all the points and the team survived yellow cards to Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio to win 15-13. It was a momentous result for England and put the rest of international rugby on notice ahead of the World Cup a few months later.
After that game in Wellington, I took my coaching team out to celebrate. The players were so tired from the exertions of the match that they went back to the hotel.
But I knew as coaches it was right to have a few beers as we’d done something truly special. We stumbled across a pub called the Hummingbird. When we all walked in, the place went deathly quiet! Then, after a short silence, the whole place applauded us.
The All Blacks fans gave us drinks and we sang songs into the night. Their supporters know how to win and lose, not that they do the latter very often! They are very knowledgeable on their rugby and are full of respect.
I remember getting on the mic and singing Ronan Keating’s Life Is a Rollercoaster! I loved that song and it was pretty appropriate because coaching international rugby really is a rollercoaster full of ups and downs!
Sir Clive Woodward's England team of 2003 celebrate beating the mighty All Blacks in Wellington
That victory set them up to win the World Cup in Australia a few months later
'Beating New Zealand doesn’t happen very often to a player or a coach, if ever,' says Woodward. 'To do so is a special, special moment'
Beating New Zealand doesn’t happen very often to a player or a coach, if ever. To do so is a special, special moment. It was exactly that for me in Wellington 22 years ago.
And that is the opportunity that presents itself to the England team of today this weekend. These days, South Africa are clearly the No 1 team on the planet. But traditionally, New Zealand have been the game’s acid Test. Every game you play against them is special. That much is as true now as it has ever been in my opinion.
My experience of All Blacks weeks is that everything is heightened. At England’s Pennyhill Park base, training will have gone up a notch. There will be tension. That is understandable. New Zealand is not just another game. There is no point treating it as such. England’s players and Steve Borthwick have to embrace the pressure and facing the haka and go out there and deliver.
What’s exciting is that England are in a very good position to win the match. Clearly, it will be far from straightforward against what is still an incredible team. But England have home advantage, are nine games unbeaten and are now ranked fourth in the world.
If this weekend’s game were taking place in Auckland or Dunedin, I’d be less confident. But playing at Twickenham is another huge tick in England’s box. It’s a reflection of the national side’s impressive growth that they should be hugely disappointed if they don’t win. But make no mistake, if they do, it will be lift off for this team.
In my book, England start as favourites. They have all the bits and pieces needed to win, even with Ollie Chessum and Tommy Freeman out injured. Chessum and Freeman would both have been certain starters if fit. But England’s impressive and growing strength in depth means they have very, very good replacements.
I’ve been clear in how much I rate Freeman’s ability. So, he is a big loss. But it’s when injuries strike that you see the depth of your side. And even without Chessum and Freeman, England still have an outstanding team. If England lose to New Zealand, it won’t be because those two players were absent. England have a wonderful chance to make a statement.
In 2003, I knew that to be considered as genuine World Cup contenders, we had to beat the southern hemisphere’s big three sides away from home. That’s why Wellington that year was so important.
New Zealand is not just another game. England’s players have to embrace the pressure and facing the haka and go out there and deliver
Tom Curry should be starting - but packing the bench is the way the game is going
England lost three times to New Zealand in 2024, all by narrow scores. But the national side is clearly heading in the right direction. I’ve been impressed by the composure they’ve shown in the final stages of their two autumn matches so far.
I don’t understand the logic in England having their best forwards as replacements. For me, guys like Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge and Tom Curry should be starting. But the modern game seems to be heading that way and Borthwick clearly has belief that is the way to go.
And based on what we have seen this month so far, it’s hard to argue with that. England now seem to have the ability to win tight matches in the final quarter. That is a priceless asset. It is one that will be needed this weekend.
But I think England will win, go to 10 unbeaten and record the most seismic result of the Borthwick era so far. If that’s what happens, I might even belt out some more Ronan Keating!
