Woodward victim of his own words

Clive Woodward

If Lions coach Sir Clive Woodward's rugby reputation lies battered after tonight's second test against the All Blacks, it might be a result of his own words.

Before last weekend's 21-3 rout, this is what he said ... again and again: "I've just got a really warm feeling about what's going on.

"Those of you at home, you should get on a plane and come over, even without a ticket. I've got a feeling something good's happening and don't miss it. It's been a great trip. No bullshit."

He was buoyant after the Lions had beaten Otago and Wellington, despite the loss to New Zealand Maori. His assistant Ian McGeechan was more circumspect.

"Things are looking up," he told a supporter.

Sir Clive was so upbeat, he wasn't fazed by a suggestion his team had "cheated like buggery".

He simply laughed.

The next day, six days before the first test, he believed something "special" was about to unfold.

"I'm confident when Brian [O'Driscoll] leads that team out next Saturday, it'll be with the freshest, fittest, best prepared Lions team that's ever gone out in New Zealand.

"This level is all about how you handle the pressure, working out which players can handle the pressure. They don't come much bigger pressure games than next Saturday night, and we'll see which team is best to handle the pressure of a Lions v New Zealand first test match."

The world saw.

Now, wearing the reality of the loss ahead of the must-win second test, Sir Clive is less effusive.

"From my point of view, Saturday night, the test match - I've been involved in coaching a long time - I think I'd put it top of the list of the most disappointing nights I've been involved in. To see it all unfold was very, very disappointing.

"I still sit in my room and look at the test team I picked and in my head it still makes total sense. If we had won all our line-out ball it would have been a totally different story that night, and if O'Driscoll had stayed on the pitch more than 40 seconds."

He conceded there were quite a lot of 'if's'. "Behind the scenes it's been a great tour, but unfortunately Saturday night just ruined it for a few days. ... But there's only one way to approach it and that's to come out fighting." He still "passionately" believes the Lions can win the second test.

If they don't? He's been surprised by the vitriol and bile this week, and he will take notice of the arrows and stones and bricks which are thrown.

"You don't forget what certain people say when you are down."

Test forecast: Fine with fresh northerly winds