SIR CLIVE WOODWARD

‘IF WE LOSE THIS GAME I AM GOING TO KILL SOMEONE’

We couldn’t have had Sir Clive Woodward at Townhouse without asking him about a certain moment 15 years previously, on 22 November 2003: the Rugby World Cup final, Sydney, Australia. With the score locked at 17–17 and just 26 seconds to go, England fans had hearts in mouths. But how was the England head coach feeling? I like to think I was really calm. I could see

Jonny Wilkinson drop back into the pocket

[in readiness for a drop goal] and I was going,

“No, you’ve got to be closer.” Then Matt Dawson passes it on to Jonny’s wrong foot. Jonny’s leftfooted but it goes to his right foot and then he swings. I’m thinking, “If this doesn’t go over I’m going to go nuts because we should have gone further [up the pitch].” Of course, the ball sails between the posts. Paul Grayson was stood next to me and I’ve gone, “I told you that was the right time to do it.” I’m now shouting at the players to get back because a lot of them are celebrating. The real top guys, like Martin Johnson, sprint back. Because Australia have got one more kickoff. That’s not the final whistle. We’re only three points up. The kick-off is huge and I’m screaming, “Get back into position!” The Aussies were great, they got the ball back really quick. Trevor Woodman, this fat little prop, runs forwards and sails like a salmon up in the air and takes the most amazing catch. He comes down, we hit the ruck, it goes to Mike Catt, he cleans it out, the fulltime whistle goes. It was just unbelievable.