Monday, 24 November, 2003, 05:26 GMT
England prepares rugby homecoming
England's World Cup-winning rugby team are set for a heroes' welcome when they return from Australia on Tuesday.
The squad - flying in a plane rechristened "Sweet Chariot" in their honour - left Australia on flight BA 16 at 0520 GMT on Monday and are expected to arrive at Heathrow airport at 0430 GMT on Tuesday.
A separate seat was reserved for the William Webb Ellis Trophy, while extra crates of beer were ordered. Jonny Wilkinson kicked England to a 20-17 victory with a drop goal just 26 seconds from the end of extra-time in a scintillating final on Saturday. We h
ave been talking to the RFU to see how we could mark their efforts Downing Street spokesman Tributes have been paid to the England players from all quarters of British society, including the Queen, the prime minister and football captain David Beckham. England coach Clive Woodward said that, with his phone blocked by so many goodwill text and phone messages, he had not received a message to call Downing Street "so apologies to the prime minister for that". Downing Street is discussing plans for an official celebration to mark the triumph. A spokesman said: "We have been talking to the RFU to see how we could mark their efforts. A reception is obviously one of the things we are talking to them about." There is speculation Mr Woodward could be knighted after guiding the team to its first World Cup victory and the first global success for a major British sports team since 1966.
Although Woodward and the captain Martin Johnson were careful to praise the whole team, the media has heaped much of the credit on to the 24-year-old shoulders of Wilkinson. PR guru Max Clifford said Wilkinson can now expect the same sort of hero worship as David Beckham and could earn up to �5m a year. Mr Clifford said: "He's the golden boy of rugby. He's been such a success during the World Cup so the sky's the limit." But Wilkinson's mother Philippa, who went shopping during the game because she was so nervous, refused to highlight her son as the hero.
She said: "I am pleased for the whole team. You can't just say it's the one boy, it's the whole team." A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "The Queen has sent a message to Clive Woodward congratulating the team on a great victory." Tony Blair said: "This was a fantastic day for English rugby and for England. It was a very proud day for England David Beckham "The team can be proud of their performance, their spirit and above all their character."
Beckham, who became friends with Wilkinson when shooting an advert with him, missed the game because he was training in Spain with Real Madrid. He said: "It was a very proud day for England. I said during the week that I felt that England would win and Jonny really deserves what happened today. "Congratulations go to the whole team on behalf of the England football team." England football coach Sven-Goran Eriksson paid tribute to the team and said he hoped to repeat their success at the European Championships next year. Conservative leader Michael Howard also congratulated the team and said: "The pride sends shivers down your spine.
"Every player did his bit, but Clive Woodward stands out above all. He was written off four years ago and he has made England world champions." Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, who was at the game, added: "This is a piece of history and I am absolutely thrilled."
Honorary degree for Clive
10/12/03Loughborough University honours Woodward
England's Rugby World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward, OBE, is to receive an honorary degree from Loughborough University in recognition of his inspirational leadership and the development of Rugby Union in England.
Woodward was a student at Loughborough University in the late 1970s, gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education and Sports Science, followed by a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE). While at University he captained Loughborough's first XV rugby team, leading them to victory in the British University championship, and coming under the influence of coach Jim Greenwood of Scotland and British Lions fame.
"We are extremely proud of our sports tradition at Loughborough University, and Clive Woodward epitomises the high-achieving alumni that have graduated from this department for over the past sixty years. We are delighted to see the hugely successful achievement of England Rugby under Clive's leadership," said Professor Stuart Biddle, head of the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
In 1979 Woodward joined Leicester Tigers, and the following year gained the first of his 21 England caps. He also toured twice with the British Lions, to South Africa in 1980 and New Zealand in 1983. While working in Australia in the late 1980s, he was captain of the Sydney Premier Grade side, Manly.
Turning his attention to coaching, Woodward successfully presided over Henley RFC during their unprecedented success in the early 1990s. Coaching positions at Premiership clubs London Irish and Bath then followed, and in 1997, during his spell at Bath, he was appointed as England's first-ever full-time professional coach.
In March 2003, England became the Six Nations champions, beating Ireland in Dublin to complete the Grand Slam. Wins against the All Blacks, for only the second time in New Zealand, and the Wallabies, for the first time on Australian soil, followed, and on November 22 he led England to victory against Australia in the Final of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Lock Ben Kay and four other members of the England coaching staff - assistant coach Andy Robinson, defence coach Phil Larder, line-out coach Si Hardy and fitness advisor Dave Reddin - are graduates of Loughborough University, and are part of the Loughborough training culture that has made the England side one of the fittest and best prepared in the world.
Kicking coach Dave Aldred is currently registered as a postgraduate student at Loughborough, researching the psychology of kicking and ITV rugby commentators John Taylor and Steve Smith are also Loughborough University graduates. Woodward, 47, will be presented with his award in 2004.
London comes to a standstill for England squad
08/12/03The fans make it happen for RWC winners
Hundreds of thousands of England rugby fans took to the streets on Monday morning to catch a glimpse of the Rugby World Cup-winning England squad as they made their way, in specially refurbished open-top buses, towards Trafalgar Square. Roads were closed and Tube stations were flooded with an army of fans desperate for the slightest glimpse of some of their favourite players.
The Mayor of London was on hand to cut the giant ribbon strung across the Arch to send the players on their way and later awarded the whole team the freedom of the city. Some of the players still seemed overwhelmed at the turnout as the two buses, surrounded by security, crawled along the crowded streets as the team waved to the adoring crowd below. Construction workers hung England flags from the buildings, office employees hung out of their West End offices�and supporters clambered on top of bus stops in an effort to gain a higher vantage point as the players held the Webb Ellis Cup aloft.
An emotional Martin Johnson said: "It's been incredible, this is awesome, absolutely mindblowing. We had thousands of fans in Australia, but this is something else." Oxford Street was more of a circus than usual and the shops were reportedly taking full advantage as some stocked up on England jerseys, while others cut prices on theirs! Central London came to a standstill as balloons were released and ticker-tape began to fly across the streets. The players began to mimic the fans as they began to snap away with cameras and state-of-the-art camcorders. Jonny Wilkinson smiled sheepishly as he received a growing number of marriage proposals and some of the players seemed to take a particular liking to the champagne that had made it's way onto the bus.
A massive roar greeted the buses as they entered Regent Street and the sidewalks swelled with bodies as 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' was belted out with great gusto but that was nothing compared to the noise that greeted them when the buses turned into Trafalgar Square which was awash with flags and banners. Drop-kick hero Wilkinson said: "We're overwhelmed. It matters so much to get this support and being on this bus now is one of the greatest moments of my life. It's great to be able to pay back the fans who travelled half way around the world as well as those who stayed at home."
Following the bus tour, the England players travelled to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace before moving on to an afternoon�reception with British�Prime Minister Tony Blair.
'We won't stand still' says Woodward
09/12/03England coach determined to move forward
Like the rest of the Rugby World Cup-winning England squad, coach Clive Woodward was absolutely blown away by Monday's victory parade through the streets of central London, but at the same it has made him more determined to move forward ahead of England's title defence in France in 2007.
"I'm sure it will stick with every single one of us always, but I am also totally confident that every single one of the players has the ability to go forward from this," said Woodward to Britain's Press Association . "For me, once January 1 comes the World Cup Final will be history and we have to move on. "We are there to give this group of players every chance of being successful, and they are perhaps the most experienced group of players in international rugby but we won't stand still, and the coaching team won't stand still either. I fully intend to bring in new people into the coaching team.
"It's a brutal business, but I'm very clear that if we take our foot off the pedal there will be changes - and that would include myself." Woodward, England's coach since 1997, had his contract renewed - shortly before the 2003 RWC - that will see him remain in charge until the 2007 World Cup. Meanwhile, Jonny Wilkinson, who kicked the winning drop-goal in the World Cup Final on November 22, is ready to return to his club, the Newcastle Falcons, in the aftermath of England's RWC triumph.
"I have been training since Wednesday, kicking every day and getting stuck in - I love doing that part of normal life," said England's newest hero. "I didn't play last weekend though so I am keen to get back in the side, now I just have to get selected."
Laporte considers his future
17/11/03
Family to think about The French want Bernard Laporte, the French coach to stay on, but the man with the professorial air and unashamed enthusiasm for the game wants to discuss the matter with his family first.
According to L'Equipe , Bernard Lapasset, the President of the French Rugby Federation, wants Laporte to renew his contract until 2007. Two hours after France's defeat at the hands of England in the 2003 Rugby World Cup semi-final, Lapasset rallied to his coach and expressed his confidence in him.
Lapasset said: "There is no reason for the Federation not to have faith in him. He has brought a new dimension to the post." In his turn, Laporte said on Monday that he wanted to discuss the matter in private, as became professionals. Laporte has been the French coach since 1999 when he took over from the legendary French players, Jean-Claude Skrela and Pierre Villepreux, after the World Cup when France made a nonsense of the form books and beat the All Blacks in the semi-final. Laporte wants to look to his family first. The father of twins said: "I have two teenage children. I have seen little of their growing up from the time I started coaching Stade Fran�ais in 1995.
"I want to have a serious discussion with them to ask if they are willing to accept a father who is seldom at home." Laporte also wants to find a better solution to the old French problem - the tug-o-war between country and club, who pays the player.
"It is important to find a balance between the French team and the club. It is a problem, I understand only too well. But we must find a solution that makes both sides happy." Laporte has prepared France for 48 Tests. They won 28, drew one and lost 19.
Tindall earns England recall for Final
19/11/03
Bath man swaps with club mate Catt England have recalled Mike Tindall to the midfield for the World Cup Final clash against Australia on Saturday, the Bath man replacing club mate Mike Catt in the No.12 shirt.
Total recall: Tindall takes No.12 jersey for Final
Tindall was relegated to the bench for the semi-final, but England coach Clive Woodward has opted for the 25-year-old's powerful presence in his starting line-up to face a heavyweight Wallaby backline division. In all, Tindall has appeared against the Wallabies on three occasions - most recently in the 25-14 victory in Melbourne back in June, the centre scoring a try in the historic win. "Tindall is a key part of our team and he fully understood why we made the change [last week] just as Mike Catt has been spot-on in his attitude this week," said Woodward. "I don't think it's to counter their three-quarter line - it's to supplement our three-quarter line," he added. "Playing Australia it was right to go back with Tindall for this game. Horses for courses is right, we are here to win this game."
Much had been made before the semi-final of Catt's ability to take the pressure off fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, offering as he does a fine tactical sense and excellent kicking game, but Woodward dismissed that the return of Tindall could have an adverse affect on his team's No.10. "I have no doubt that Wilkinson will play fantastically well whoever is alongside him," said Woodward. "I expect him to play like he always does. The way we played in the earlier matches was not the fault of Wilkinson and I thought that he was Man of the match in every single one of those early matches." As expected, England have gone for a tried-and-tested combination - indeed, the pack alone boast 375 caps between them while the team has a massive 638 Test appearances under their belt - and are unlikely to deviate too much from the gameplan which has brought the men in white such success during this tournament. "You don't win World Cups by playing with width, but by winning games," said Woodward when challenged on England's relative lack of tries during RWC 2003. "My mind is very clear and it is based on Saturday night. "My job at Twickenham is to win Test matches. I get paid to win Test matches. The last four games against Australia we have have won four out of four, and that's the only stat I care about. That's what we pride ourselves on."
England: 15 Josh Lewsey, 14 Jason Robinson, 13 Will Greenwood, 12 Mike Tindall, 11 Ben Cohen, 10 Jonny Wilkinson (vice-captain), 9 Matt Dawson, 8 Lawrence Dallaglio, 7 Neil Back, 6 Richard Hill, 5 Ben Kay, 4 Martin Johnson (captain), 3 Phil Vickery, 2 Steve Thompson, 1 Trevor Woodman. Replacements: 16 Dorian West, 17 Jason Leonard, 18 Martin Corry, 19 Lewis Moody, 20 Kyran Bracken, 21 Mike Catt, 22 Iain Balshaw.
Kick-off: 20.00 local (09.00 GMT), Live in the UK on ITV1
By Justin O'Regan in Sydney
Jones goes for the tried and trusted
19/11/03
Baxter in for injured Darwin at prop Australia have made just one change to their starting line-up for the Rugby World Cup Final, against England at Sydney's Telstra Stadium on Saturday. Al Baxter comes in for the injured Ben Darwin at tighthead prop, with a big change, also, on the bench.
Fronting up: Wallaby prop Al Baxter
Darwin has a bulging disc in his neck after being stretchered off the field during the Wallabies' semi-final win over New Zealand last Saturday. That means that Matt Dunning steps up to the bench, while elsewhere in the forwards, coach Eddie Jones has stuck with line-out specialist Justin Harrison ahead of David Giffin, who remains on the bench. "At this stage, Justin will play the first part of the game the best," said Jones. "Giff has had an interrupted World Cup, but we know he can come on in the second half and really give us a lot of experience. His performance last weekend was absolutely outstanding." Jones paid tribute to the form shown by England during RWC 2003 and revealed that he is expected a mighty battle up front.
"When playing us, I'm sure there's only one thing they are looking at, and that's to dominate us in the forwards," he said. "They are just playing to their strengths. The semi-final was an unusual game because of the rain. They still have the ability to play with greater width but certainly they've playing a much shorter, narrower game in this World Cup than they've been playing previously. "England have been heavily criticised but whether they play poorly or play well, they still win. Sides struggle to beat them because they control their first-phase possession so well and convert that to points ... they are such good accumulators of points." Jones was admant that the last encounter between the two teams - in Melbourne back in June of this year when England won by 25-14 - would have little relevance to Saturday's game.
"We've got a completely different side that played in June," said Jones. "Maybe only six of the team are the same. We've got a young pack and they have no fear. "They've got nothing to be frightened of. They'll play with a lot of aggression and if we're good enough we'll get on top of them and if we're not good enough, we won't. We've got no fear at all." The big change on the bench, meanwhile, sees little ACT Brumbies utility back Matt Giteau replace Nathan Grey in the No.21 jumper. Giteau, who can play anywhere in the backline, missed the semi-final win over the All Blacks with an ankle injury, but he could play a crucial role for the Wallabies in the Final from the bench.
Australia: 15 Mat Rogers, 14 Wendell Sailor, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Elton Flatley (vice-captain), 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 David Lyons, 7 Phil Waugh (vice-captain), 6 George Smith, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Brendan Cannon, 1 Bill Young. Replacements: 16 Jeremy Paul, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 David Giffin, 19 Matt Cockbain, 20 Chris Whitaker, 21 Matt Giteau, 22 Joe Roff.
Kick-off: 20.00 local (09.00 GMT), Live in the UK on ITV1
