Motivation Doesn’t Come Into This Game – Woodward

England coach Clive Woodward has warned that
England have been handed extra motivation for Saturday’s RBS Six Nations clash with Ireland after being wound up by suggestions the world champions had
lost some
of their competitive edge.

After comfortable wins over Italy and Scotland, the English return
to
Twickenham for their first match since lifting the World Cup, and
Woodward
promised his remodelled side would be up for it.
“Yes there is a bigger edge to this game,” he said.
“Especially when you
hear words coming across from Ireland like ‘are England tough enough
for this
game?’

“That was quite a good media story coming over the Irish sea!
We know that
this is the biggest challenge since the World Cup final, Ireland are
a very
strong side and we are playing our first competitive game at
Twickenham so
there is a bit of an edge.

“We have made a few changes, some forced some otherwise and
that always
adds a bit of edge to the team.
We are really looking forward to the game, the weather
forecast is good
and like every game at Twickenham it is just going to be a
magnificent
occasion.

“We all get involved in this game as though this is going to
be our last
game, that is the only way to approach it and there has been a real
edge this
week. I am really looking forward to this game as much as ever as
being in
charge of the England team.”

England are bidding to make it 23 consecutive victories at their
stronghold
and Woodward said he was expecting a spine-tingling atmosphere.

“There are two things, we haven’t been back at Twickenham for
nearly a year
and it is the first time we have been back as world champions with
our full
strength side playing, so it is going to be a huge atmosphere and it
is a real
competitive game.

“This isn’t a game that England expect to win by a hatful of
points, this
is a real game that we are going into. We have the utmost respect for
the
Irish team who with a little more composure would have beaten the
Australians
in the World Cup but that is the difference between winning and
losing.

“It is going to be a great day and the players know that as
well.

“Motivation doesn’t come into this game — you almost have to
calm things
down, keep people talking about the process, the performance and not
about the
occasion.”

Ireland meanwhile received an eve-of-match boost when flanker
Victor
Costello was cleared to play after shaking off an ankle injury.

AFP – 2004