Six Nations: Sir Clive Woodward blasts Scots ‘gamesmanship’ ahead of Calcutta Cup
England coach Clive Woodward frets about the time before the 2004 Calcutta Cup match
THE war of words in the run-up to Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match has taken a twist with former England coach Sir Clive Woodward criticising everything from the Scottish Rugby Union’s pre-match entertainment to the design of Murrayfield Stadium, writes Martin Hannan.
The director of sport for the British Olympic Association has warned that interim England coach Stuart Lancaster “must beware Murrayfield”.
With Scotland coach Andy Robinson having refused to withdraw his claim about English “arrogance,” Woodward jokingly referred to his fellow Englishman – and former boss at Bath RFC – as “McRobinson,” and said that he disliked visiting Murrayfield, admitting that “relief came in leaving the place knowing that it was two years before you had to go back”.
Woodward said: “Lancaster will find that everything is set up to frustrate the away team. Slap bang in the middle of the away dressing room is a massive square pillar of at least 15 feet in width. It makes it so hard to address the room and really difficult to operate as a team.
“It was certainly not holding up the roof, but if you really want to disrupt a preparation, then put in a whacking great pillar. Strangely, there is no pillar in the Scotland dressing room.”
Woodward also criticised the “hundreds and hundreds” of bagpipers disrupting England’s warm-up, and also the Scottish tactics in trying to unsettle their visitors.
He said: “I used to spend ages clarifying exactly when the teams were meant to be emerging, but we always came off second best. I can recall England taking the field, side-stepping the hundreds of pipers at our end, then going to my seat and waiting at least five minutes with no sign of the Scottish team.
“Eventually, I ran back into the tunnel to find the referee vainly banging on the Scotland door, which they had locked. I demanded that the referee, who was doing his nut, gave us a penalty from halfway to start the game but even he laughed at that. Well, it was worth a try. Eventually, the door opened and the Scottish team walked out quietly, and totally focused.”
Woodward’s account of that incident is true, but leaves out one detail, according to Andy Nicol, the former Scotland captain who will be working for the BBC during the Six Nations.
Nicol said: “I was actually standing in the tunnel for the BBC when he did that and I remember it well.
“The pitch was full of pipers, and he’s right, there was very little room for England to run into.
“Then when he came down into the tunnel to get Scotland out, he was faced with six more pipers in their busbies coming out ahead of the Scotland team – the shock on his face was hilarious. He is also correct that there is a pillar in the away dressing room and not in the Scotland changing room, but every home team should take what advantage it can.
“There are always mind games going on before internationals, and I think this is just Clive trying to create a bit more tension before the match on Saturday.”
Woodward, 56, coached England to victory in the 2003 World Cup, after which he was knighted. He was somewhat less successful as head coach of the British and Irish Lions who lost all three Tests in New Zealand in 2005, but there has been talk of him returning to the English rugby fold after the Olympics in London.
Former successful Lions captain – his men won the 1989 Test series in Australia - and Scotland legend Finlay Calder doesn’t think there will be any Scottish psychological ‘tricks’ before the Calcutta Cup match on Saturday.
Calder said: “All this is just Clive being Clive, and who knows why he says these things, or what his future is?
“I don’t think there will be any of that sort of mind games stuff happening on Saturday, as I genuinely don’t think Andy Robinson is bothered about that sort of thing.
“I don’t think we should get too worked up about what Clive is suggesting – let’s just get on with the game.”
Woodward has form with these complaints. After the Calcutta Cup match of 2004, which then world champions England won handsomely, he criticised the pre-match fireworks, glitter on the pitch, and the 300 pipers.
“It’s a sporting event, not a pop concert,” said Woodward.
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Comments
There are 16 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
Sevendirtywords
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 10:14 AMAn irrelevant whinge about nothing from yesterday's man. A complete non-story.
Lawnman
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:57 PMDid anyone else, apart from me, wish a wasp or be was at hand when he was chewing that damn bubble gum?
Vesper
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 08:23 PMGood Old Clive. He is always worth a laugh....
Dandyhurl
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 05:13 PMThat said, I go to Murrayfield to watch rugby. All the pseudo Yank razzmatazz is superfluous. Is the rugby not enough? Do we really need it tinsel-wrapped?
Dandyhurl
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 05:10 PMSo, if Woodwind was obsessing with the fireworks, the glitter, the pipers and the internal architecture of Murrayfield ... who was thinking about the rugby?? One of the most overrated sporting figures of all time.
MrJaffa
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 01:39 PMI know he comes across as a bit of a loony....but .....really...... should Clive Woodward be making comments such as these? The BOA are doing their upmost to sell the Olympics to the people of Scotland and so for one of their highest profile employees to be making comments such as the above is a serious slap in the London Olympics marketing teams face.
Sumph
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 01:17 PMSo lame from Sir Clive and so whining and petty as always. I suppose he would back dangerously dirty play as seen from Delon Armitage in the Mossy tackle (or even some of Armitage's other beauties like the sneaky punch on Myler or worst of all his lethal tackle on Biggs that you can find on youtube). Stuart Lancaster need not fear Murrayfield because we Scots will recognise him as a true man of the game, a Northerner and not a politician. Someone we can do battle with whilst also having good old friendly banter before and after. Welcome Mr. Lancaster, I hope you get well looked after and don't bring any of these creepy crawlies like Woodward up with you.
Mwell Jambo
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:26 PMAs ever at this time of year, I'm getting excited. Having watched some of the England squad over the last few weeks in cup and league action, we have nothing to fear if we produce Edinburgh's backs' form and Glasgow's forwards' form. Pleaase let this be the year that it all comes together and we do not lose many games by few points - let's win a few for a change. Q for Mrs Gray (ex RHS) or Miss Toole (Muirhouse PS), did I get the apostrophes correct?
PeterVincent
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:08 PM"there has been talk of him returning to the English rugby fold after the Olympics in London" - Yes please! That's worth at least 5 points per game for the opposition.
Grumpydm
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:41 AMWe're trying to gain interest from young supporters into the game, what's wrong with making it enjoyable for family's, what's wrong with a bit of razzmatazz, it's not like us Scots get to celebrate things on that kind of scale apart from the 6 nations, at least we're no acting like a bunch of lads on a 18-30 holiday just good clean fun, let's just see who wins the battle on the pitch and not the mind games, C'mon Scotland!!!!
biocat
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:20 AMIt is presumably also unfair that for these matches Murrayfield is packed with Scots supporting their own team. Scots, bagpipes, singing and a spectacle for the fans. What a surprise! Woodward, get over yourself!
shrek4
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:53 AMOne of the most overrated coaches in history. The England team of 2003 were fantastic - especially Martin Johnson who has since been shafted. They were at their peak. He was shown for what he is on the Lions tour.
Gordieboy78
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:50 AM#1 I actually also agree with that sentiment. Nothing wrong with the pre-match build-up, but it is in danger of detracting from the sporting contest. Still, I wonder what Sir Clive's thoughts are on the pre-match build-up in Ireland, where the oposition have to stand through two 'home' anthems; perhaps Murrayfield's massed pipers and fireworks shtick is somewhat tame by comparison...?
PeterVincent
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:11 AMFrom the man who nearly destroyed the Lions.
Mr Twatter
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 08:12 AMI detested this ar$e as a player, then as a manager Always complaining about something - just stick now to ensuring the English Games (Olympics) are a flop Best thing for you is Michelle MOAN moving down next door to you Removing knighthoods ? - think his would be a more popular choice than Fred the Shreds Come On Scotland
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