Sir Clive Woodward, England’s World Cup-winning coach, looks back on one of the most unforgettable nights of his career and shares why this weekend’s clash with New Zealand at Twickenham is a golden opportunity for the current England squad.
A Night to Remember in Wellington
For Woodward, June 14, 2003, still stands out as the pinnacle of his coaching career.
That night, England beat the All Blacks in New Zealand for the first time in 30 years, a 15-13 triumph powered by Jonny Wilkinson’s precise kicking.
Even with yellow cards for Neil Back and Lawrence Dallaglio, England held firm, sending a clear message to the rugby world ahead of the World Cup.
After the match, Woodward and his coaching staff went out to celebrate while the players rested.
They stumbled upon a pub called the Hummingbird, where the room initially went silent — then erupted in applause.
All Blacks fans welcomed the English coaches with drinks and songs, and Woodward even took to the mic to sing Ronan Keating’s Life Is a Rollercoaster.
“Coaching international rugby really is a rollercoaster full of ups and downs,” Woodward reflected, capturing the emotion of that Wellington night.
New Zealand Remains the Ultimate Test
Woodward points out that, while South Africa currently ranks as the top team globally, New Zealand still represents rugby’s ultimate benchmark.
Every encounter with the All Blacks carries an unmatched intensity.
England’s preparations at Pennyhill Park will be heightened, with tension and focus ramped up for the haka and the challenge ahead.
“There is no point treating it as just another game,” Woodward notes.
“England’s players and Steve Borthwick have to embrace the pressure and go out there and deliver.”
England’s Current Position
The modern England squad arrives at Twickenham on a nine-game unbeaten streak, ranked fourth in the world, and with home advantage firmly on their side.
Woodward is optimistic about their chances despite injuries to Ollie Chessum and Tommy Freeman.
“Even without Chessum and Freeman, England still have an outstanding team,” he says.
“If they lose, it won’t be because those two players are absent.
They have a wonderful chance to make a statement.”
Depth and Resilience
Woodward praises the depth of England’s squad, highlighting how injuries test a team’s true strength.
While he personally values players like Freeman, he acknowledges that the replacements are highly capable.
England’s ability to close out tight matches in the final quarter is now a notable asset, and one that could prove decisive against New Zealand.
Learning from History
Woodward recalls the importance of that Wellington victory in 2003, explaining that to be considered serious World Cup contenders, England had to defeat southern hemisphere giants away from home.
Recent narrow losses to New Zealand in 2024 show progress, with the national side demonstrating composure in autumn matches that bodes well for the clash at Twickenham.
Prediction and Excitement
In Woodward’s eyes, England start as favourites this weekend.
A win would extend their unbeaten run to ten games and mark the most seismic result of the Borthwick era so far.
“If that happens, I might even belt out some more Ronan Keating!” he jokes, capturing the joy and anticipation that only a high-stakes England vs New Zealand match can inspire.
For Woodward, the echoes of Wellington still resonate — and he sees the same potential for this England team to create a moment just as special on home soil.