England has a fantastic opportunity to secure victory against New Zealand at Eden Park, but they need to apply pressure on the All Blacks, according to Sir Clive Woodward.
During the 2003 World Cup, the England team I coached faced heavy criticism from the rugby media after our performance in the quarter-final victory against Wales.
It wasn’t our finest display, and Wales gave us quite a scare. However, the crucial thing was that we emerged victorious.
I recall after that match, esteemed journalist Jeff Powell from Mail Sport, now an MBE, approached me in disbelief over the criticism directed at me and the team.
He said that if England’s football side was progressing through a World Cup as the 2003 rugby team did, there would be no criticism whatsoever. In fact, it would be the complete opposite. Jeff pointed out that in big tournaments – whatever the sport – the only thing that counts is winning.
His view may seem obvious, but the clarity of Jeff’s thinking is something I will always remember. I’ll never forget Jeff’s comments because he was the only journalist after that Wales game who didn’t put the boot in. The general media consensus was England would be hammered by a brilliant French side in the semi-final.
But the team went on to produce one of the finest performances of my coaching tenure, defeating France and ultimately lifting the trophy after a tense final against Australia.
This week, I’m reminded of Jeff’s perspective as English sport faces some significant upcoming events.
I’ve been disappointed but not surprised by the criticism directed at England’s footballers and Gareth Southgate during EURO2024 in Germany. However, as Jeff pointed out, success is what truly matters, and England have done remarkably well to reach the final against Spain in Berlin. It would be fantastic if they can go on to clinch victory on Sunday.
This weekend could shape up to be an incredible one for English sports. I’m eagerly anticipating it.
England’s football stars, along with Southgate as manager, will secure their place in history if they win the country’s first major tournament in men’s football since 1966.
But before that, on Saturday, England’s rugby team also has an opportunity to create history. Similar to the footballers against Spain, what matters most for Steve Borthwick and his team in Auckland is achieving the right result. The method doesn’t necessarily matter, to be honest.
Everyone knows about New Zealand’s phenomenal record at Eden Park. But after losing their first Test with the All Blacks by the narrowest of margins, I believe Borthwick’s team can turn the tables. There is one key thing they need to work on to win this weekend.
Reflecting on the first Test in Dunedin, England showed fantastic play in the opening 40 minutes. However, as the game tightened in the final 30 minutes and went down to the wire, I felt they adopted a mindset of avoiding defeat rather than actively seeking victory.
This is a critical mindset shift that England needs to address. Throughout my coaching career, I always emphasized “pressure with pressure.” What this means is that when under intense pressure from the opposition—such as defending your own line for multiple phases—the best teams not only withstand that pressure but immediately look for opportunities to apply pressure back on their opponents.
Looking at the last half-hour of the Dunedin Test, England faced significant pressure but missed several chances to turn it around on the All Blacks. Instead of playing to win, they seemed to play not to lose, a significant difference at the highest level of competition.
One of the best examples of “pressure with pressure” occurred in a game I coached against the All Blacks. During a phase where we defended our try line for over 30 phases, we won a penalty. Rather than slowing the game down and kicking to touch, our team, to my delight, took a quick tap penalty and ran the ball from our own try line. What made it even more memorable was that it was Jason Leonard, a prop forward, who took the tap! The entire Twickenham stadium erupted in excitement.
England’s 2024 squad is still developing, and it will take time for them to adopt this proactive mindset. However, it is fundamental to winning international rugby matches.
England definitely possesses the talent to succeed. They’ve shown significant progress recently, and I believe Borthwick can further develop the team’s playing style and mental toughness. Winning at Eden Park is a real possibility.
Borthwick’s consistent selection policy is commendable, marking an end to the disruptive chopping and changing that previously affected the team’s cohesion.
The only change for Auckland sees Fin Baxter starting at prop in place of the injured Joe Marler. If Borthwick’s squad replicates last weekend’s performance, shows courage under pressure, and embraces the “pressure with pressure” philosophy, they can certainly win and level the series—an achievement that would mark a historic moment and propel England’s development.
Similar principles apply to England’s footballers facing a formidable Spanish team. While they’ll face challenges during the match, responding with assertiveness and seizing key opportunities could bring football glory home. This weekend holds the potential for unforgettable moments in both rugby and football for our country.
Come on England!
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