Woodward Claims Nz Have The Edge

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday June 5, 2004

AUCKLAND.- World champions England needed to make up for lost time if they were to preserve their stranglehold over Southern Hemisphere rugby teams against the All Blacks next week, coach Clive Woodward said.

England have not lost against sides from the Southern Hemisphere since 2000, a four-year reign that included a rare victory in New Zealand last June as well as the World Cup final triumph over Australia last November in Sydney.

But Woodward, whose side struggled to find their best form during the Six Nations, believes New Zealand have a strong advantage over the English ahead of the two Tests on June 12 and 19.

Woodward noted after his team arrived in Auckland that England had not played since March and the first time they train as a team would be Monday, while the rival All Blacks were already in training following a trial match on Tuesday.

``I think the All Blacks have got quite a big advantage over us," Woodward said.

He said ahead of the first Test in Dunedin on June 12 he had a fairly good idea of his starting line-up, but there were still some ``close calls ... there are some big calls to make".

Woodward dismissed talk of a strategy of building up to the next World Cup, saying his tactic was always win ``the game next Saturday".

Other than the inclusion of Jason Robinson this team was the strongest possible other than for players injured, such as star kicker Jonny Wilkinson, or unavailable.

``We're here with our strongest team, no ducking or diving about that," Woodward said.

He hailed the selection of Tana Umaga as All Black captain, terming him a ``great player, a great leader - a good call".

Woodward also welcomed the return to All Black ranks of fly-half Andrew Mehrtens, describing him as ``a fantastic player ... he's a proven Test match player".

But he admitted that he believed the starting 15 would include Carlos Spencer ahead of Mehrtens.

Woodward meanwhile defended the England strategy of arriving in Auckland and staying in a luxury downtown hotel for two weeks and only flying to Dunedin the day before the Test.