Coach Clive, live and dangerous

By DAVID LEGGAT at the World Cup

BRISBANE - Just when a bit of humility might have been the smarter option, England coach Clive Woodward reinforced the notion that one team at this World Cup have ideas above their station.

Having seen his team play a muddled, incoherent first-half against Wales at Suncorp Stadium, before rediscovering enough of their game to win 28-17, Woodward was in no mood for low-key, considered reflection.

It was an early, but perfectly legitimate question, that seemed to irk him. A journalist asked if, taking into account France's vibrant pool play, their demolition of Ireland in Sunday's other quarter-final, coupled with England's up-and-down form so far, the French might go into the semifinal in Sydney as favourites.

What followed was 15 minutes of answers, largely dismissive in nature and dripping with sarcasm.

Asked to explain England's tactics in the first half, Woodward said: "The tactics were to win the game and we won. Now we're looking forward to playing France. That's the tactics. "Did Wales rattle us? We won the game and I believe we'll beat France."

And the Welsh?

"Wales were outstanding. They played very well, they had nothing to lose and it was the best performance I've seen from Wales against England since I've been in charge.

"They did themselves very proud, but they lost."

On and on it went until towards the end, when he was asked about France's form he replied: "They're the standout team. They must be favourites to win it."

Ten minutes earlier he had said: "I don't really care if they're favourites or not."

It was all rather strange and unless it was a trick of the light, the other members of England's management team, plus players Jonny Wilkinson and Mike Catt, seated at the top table, at times looked a shade uncomfortable.

Woodward did not heed the advice of Wales coach Steve Hansen who, a few minutes earlier in the same seat, had described the game, which the Welsh deservedly led 10-3 at halftime, as "a true contest."

"Twenty minutes into the second half I still felt we could have won it.

"If they [England] are honest with themselves they'll know it could have gone either way."

The game swung on two points.

Two minutes into the second half, just as Wales needed to re-establish the pattern which had worked so well in the first spell - get up in the English faces, tackle anything in white and get the ball out wide smartly - England's little fullback Jason Robinson did what few other players can and whizzed through the Welsh defence on a mazy 50-metre run to set up Will Greenwood for England's only try.

At the interval, England introduced Mike Catt. It was a smart move and his ability to peg the Welsh back with quality kicks led to a flurry of penalties in the Welsh half.

Step forward Wilkinson who banged over kicks from all around the ground.

"We're disappointed with what happened in the first half, marginally more happy in the second half," Woodward said. "Clearly, we were not at our best and made some fundamental errors. We'll have a clear-the-air meeting this week and beat France."

Wales outscored England three tries to one, but Hansen and Welsh captain Colin Charvis conceded that was cold comfort and, putting disappointment aside, acknowledged the better side had won.

"We can sulk about the fact we scored three tries to one. but we got beaten because the opposition scored more points than us," Hansen added.

But while Wales took the glory, it is England who march on to the last four.

Hansen made the point that, even if they are not at their sharpest, "England have been put under the hammer three times [South Africa, Samoa and Wales] and they won three times." Woodward put it differently.

"We're winning games through sheer bloody-mindedness. If we get a bit more nous and keep the bloody-mindedness we'll beat France. If we play like tonight we'll have no chance.

"I don't think for a moment this team will play like we did tonight."

His performance on Sunday night did nothing to remove the reason most neutrals, and it seems all of Australia, want France in the final.

If you did not know better, you might think Woodward's constant "we'll beat them" theme masked a real concern about what lies ahead.

With all the resources at his disposal, with nothing left to chance, a couple of banana skins lie just ahead.

For England the stakes are desperately high and the question is whether they have the ability to step around them.

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