THE WORLD CUP THINKINGL Y RRECT UNDER CORRECTLYC PRESSUREPO RES SURE

An excellent team can fail because of one wrong split-second decision, says SIR , who reveals how best to prepare a team for the .

I believe that this year’s surprise that we fell against South I understood that the key LEADERS Rugby World Cup Africa in the Quarter-Final at Stade de difference between being a losing The winning Semi-Finals and Final France. team and champions was experience team will all come down to As a collective, we learned so in dealing with that intense pressure, training in 2003. seven-points or less. much from that defeat. I went back to and making the correct call in a calm Those valuable points will be lost or the drawing board in some areas, as I and considered manner. That’s where gained depending on whether players had to make sure we had everything you need leaders—and not just your can make the correct calls under the in place, so that we would be far captain—to stand up and make the most intensive pressure; the likes of better prepared to deal with pressure difference. I wanted decision-makers which they will be unlikely to have and all eventualities next time round. right the way through the team, every felt previously. By 2003 we would be in a position to player had to learn how to think and To deal with that pressure, you take it in our stride. play under pressure. have to, as a coach, try and prepare It’s one of the reasons why I took your players for every eventuality, LEARNING FROM THE BEST the England squad to visit the Royal fi ne-tune their decision-making, That the Rugby World Cup only Marines in Lympstone in East Devon, and give them as much experience comes around every four years adds because we needed players and as is possible in those high-stakes to the pressure even more, of course. coaches to be able to think correctly scenarios. But I learned to adopt the mantra under pressure. Yes it’s pressure In 1999, when I took England to that pressure is good. It’s the same trying to win a Rugby World Cup, or my fi rst World Cup as Head Coach, I for both sides, so it’s about how you striving for an Olympic Gold Medal, realized that we hadn’t covered every defi ne it, use it to your advantage and but think of the pressure elite soldiers possibility, and looking back it was no make it a threat to your opponents. are under. They are literally making

Sir Clive Woodward’s Guide to the Rugby World Cup 2011 PRESSURE | 19

The squad took part in special challenges which were designed to teach them to think correctly. While it was all good fun, I learned a lot about all of us in those PRESSURE few days.

split-second life or death calls, both WARRIORS had the opportunity to engage in no different, and it was clear that as individuals and as a collective. Players some highly unusual exercises with we needed to do a lot more work on The squad took part in special developing the Marines. For example, we had our ability to improve on this area. challenges which were designed to mental to prepare for a helicopter-ditch, There is nothing wrong with making improve their decision making. While toughness where a suspended cage, with a one mistake, but there is everything it was all good fun, I learned a lot with the Royal small window—only big enough to fi t wrong with repeating the same about all of us in those few days. Marines at one person through at a time—was mistake again. I learnt the true value of spending Lympstone. dropped into a large swimming pool This comes down sometimes to time talking and working out problems with 12 men inside it. The idea was experience, and that’s why the more that are relevant to the game. That you had to help each other to get out tests a player has, the better equipped collective focus in problem solving of that hole. Without preparation you he will be to deal with the unexpected. gives a team confi dence that also would all panic, but having planned I worked out that the ideal number of helps the team become closer. it beforehand you can stay calm and test for a player entering a World Cup In order to develop the mental communicate clearly. tournament should be 30 or more, toughness we did a lot of work as a and for 2003 I worked towards that. team in a boardroom like situation— CLEAR LEADERS There are also ways of fast tracking planning and de-briefi ng: we called it It was in these exercises that some experience, by scenario-planning and the War Room. These were coaching young, or non-senior players surprised discussing reactions to situations sessions and just as important as the me with their leadership qualities— collectively in the War Room. That physical coaching sessions on the they could make good decisions way not all players need 30 plus caps pitch. under pressure. to be able to cope with pressure. The exercises that we did with the The Marines put great store on an Marines were physically demanding individual’s ability to think correctly MAKINGS OF A CAPTAIN and also mentally challenging. We under pressure, rugby and sport is We also broke down the role of leadership—it did not all fall upon Martin Johnson’s shoulders alone. He was a brilliant captain, along with , and they will always top my list of all-time great leaders across any sport. In many ways their style of leadership complemented each other and both led by example. Over time I developed my checklist for captain selection and think that it is just as relevant in any leadership selection process. These are as follows.

Selection: A captain must be 1. the best player in their position— there must be no question about their place in the team.

Sir Clive Woodward’s Guide to the Rugby World Cup 2011 20 | PRESSURE

Experience: They have to have Thinking Correctly Under SELECTION Wilkinson, Greenwood, Catt and 2. a good track record as a leader— 5. Pressure (T-CUP): The captain Dallaglio were making the key calls in ideally skipper their club side. has the ability to make the right Martin Johnson attack, and Lewsey As one: The captain and coach call when it matters most. said that the were in charge of our counterattack 3. have to agree on how to achieve One of Martin’s greatest skills was selection process and kick chase game and the ultimate goal—you do not his delegation—when he was under for the 2011 and Richard hill had full control over want a “yes man”, but after all pressure, with his head in a ruck, he Rugby World Cup our restarts. discussion is over, you must would have the trust to know that was no mean This meant that almost everyone be as one in front of the team, others would be doing their jobs, too. feat: “This was had a key responsibility, both in media and opposition. Ever since I took charge of England undoubtedly the games and in practice. As coaches Respect: The captain has to in 1997 the coaches and I put a most diffi cult we would ask the players if they 4. lead by example—on the pitch great emphasis on the development selection we’ve wanted to fi nish a particular training and off it. of leadership within the team. In had to make in session, and if they felt that they a way I was lucky in that various my time in the were not happy with their particular circumstances meant that a number job. I think we’ve job, then they would stay out longer of players—Johnson, Dallaglio, Matt picked the best and drill and practice some more until Dawson, Phil Vickery,Vickery, and players and the they were. Kieran Bracken—had all captained fact that some Leadership is not something the side. experienced guys that you are necessarily born with, have missed out either. It’s something as a coach SHARINGSHARING goes to show the you can teach, and as a player you LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP depth we’ve now can learn. While often the players WeWe broke the leadership down got.” would prefer to be out on the training into groups: Neil Back and pitch, they would learn a lot more in Mike TTindallindall were in charge the classroom about leadership and of defensive duties; our decision-making. attacking lineout was Ben This is where coaching, and Kay and Steve Thompson’sThompson’s developing a trust and respect responsibility; the between the players—and that core defensive lineout leadership group—is key to winning Martin Corry; Jason World Cups. I challenged the players to Leonard , VVickeryickery and become the best in their position, and WoodmanWoodman looked in that 2003 World Cup most of them after the scrums; and were, compared to any opponent. The Dawson’sDawson’s role was to night before a game, I would pin the ensure we kept the two teams up next to one another and penalty count to single fi gures have the players focus on bettering and worked with the referee, their opposite man. © ACTION IMAGES ruck wrongly—gameover. a hitting by penalty a away giving by out team whole the wipe could man one and conceded, be may penalty T-CUP.astray,a go could lineout One what call to make at the crucial time— pressure moment, and understanding the stands. in on watch only can he while pitch the on deliver to needs team rugby Johnson’s coach. the not games the play who team the is it team, their to translate his message and knowledge drive will them forward. leadership that and World Cup a winning of experience the with someone have they helm, the at now say,Johnson to with hard but in their position in a World XV team? 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