Woodward says Lions the 'last great peak' of rugby

The British and Lions' tour of New Zealand next year matches the rugby World Cup in scale and importance says coach Sir Clive Woodward.

Less than five months before the Lions arrive for their 11-match, three-test tour, Woodward told The Independent newspaper that he feels under at least as much pressure as before guiding England to World Cup success.

"You can just about cope with letting down your own country," he said.

"But letting down three other countries (Wales, Scotland and Ireland) as well would be too much to bear.

"This Lions thing could well turn out to be as big as the World Cup and it is entirely conceivable that the pressure in New Zealand will be even greater than it was in Australia last year."

Woodward said the possibility of failure on a grand scale was a key driver for him, describing a Lions tour as "the final great peak".

He desperately wanted the Lions' record in New Zealand to improve, having won only one series there, in 1971.

" And to make it more interesting still, the All Blacks probably have the best coaching team, the most potent brains trust, in their history.

"Graham Henry, Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith? They're so good, it's scary."

Woodward spent November following the All Blacks to Rome, Cardiff and Paris, recording every move the New Zealanders made on their unbeaten tour.

He wasn't surprised at their impressive form, particularly the 45-6 defeat of France.

"The southern hemisphere countries weren't at all happy that England won the World Cup and it was obvious they would redouble their efforts as a result of our success," Woodward said.

"It's been happening ever since we left Sydney -- anyone with eyes can see it -- and without radical change on our part, we run the risk of dropping back into the pack."

Woodward said the innovations and progress of other leading nations was a subject that kept him awake at night.

That was why every possible stone had to be unturned before a tour of New Zealand.

"People rip it out of me for taking 40-odd players and almost 30 support staff on this tour, but I'm only doing what needs to be done," he said.

"Look at the resources the All Blacks will throw at this, and then tell me we're being extravagant in our planning. This is about us in the British Isles wanting to be the best, whatever the cost."

Woodward said Lions success in New Zealand would have greater implications for British sport and that "to compromise on something so big would be inexcusable".

He compared such a monumentous winning result with the impact it would have if London won its bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games.

"In recent years, we've proved to ourselves as a country that we can win on the world stage," he said.

"I don't think we always believed it, but we do now.

"I meet a lot of people in sport these days who know what it takes to be successful. If we win in New Zealand, the process will accelerate. If we succeed in our Olympic bid, which I support passionately, it will accelerate again."

Woodward confirmed he would seek a break from rugby after the Lions tour.

- NZPA