Far from basking in the glory of England’s momentous weekend victory over the Springboks in Bloemfontein, the national manager seems more concerned with the ramifications of Graham Henry’s controversial appointment as Lion-in-chief and the possible knock-on effect on the red rose hierarchy. Clive Woodward insists that he is not remotely miffed at being overlooked as Lions coach for the tour of Australia next summer. “I wasn’t asked, and I probably wouldn’t have taken it on if I had been,” he said yesterday But the Lions issue is bugging him, nevertheless. Far from basking in the glory of England’s momentous weekend victory over the Springboks in Bloemfontein, the national manager seems more concerned with the ramifications of Graham Henry’s controversial appointment as Lion-in-chief and the possible knock-on effect on the red rose hierarchy.
Woodward was at his paradoxical best after naming his side for tomorrow’s final game of a highly successful five-match tour: an evening rumble with Gauteng Falcons, this season’s Vodacom Cup semi-finalists, in the less than auspicious surroundings of Brakpan – the South African equivalent of Neasden, if the locals are to be believed. “I totally and utterly support Graham’s appointment, but I don’t agree with it,” he pronounced, to quizzical looks all round. “It was a decision for Donal Lenihan [the Lions manager] and he has my support, but I’m disappointed that he couldn’t see there were British coaches who could have done the job. What about Dick Best, Nigel Melville, Dean Richards, Gareth Jenkins?”Of course, Woodward is hardly in a minority of one in beefing about the prospect of a New Zealander controlling the British and Irish Lions on a trip to the Antipodes; the very thought of Henry greeting his Australian hosts with a brisk “G’day, mate” on arrival in Perth next May is too much of an insult for many traditionalists to bear.All the same, his misgivings carry more weight than most.

Woodward has created a England side sufficiently accomplished to win in Bloemfontein, where the Boks had not lost since their return from isolation in 1992; two-thirds of next year’s Lions party are likely to be English, and the coaching team of Andy Robinson, Brian Ashton, Phil Larder and Dave Alred will all come under consideration for back-room roles. Indeed, Robinson is already regarded as a certainty to travel.”A non-British coach doesn’t fit,” Woodward continued. “It’s important that we support the Lions, but there is a question as to how much support we should give. There is an England tour to America and Canada next summer and in an ideal world, I would want Andy Robinson there with me. I suspect there will be 20-plus English players with the Lions and I would like to think that Graham will want some of our coaches, too, but he has to be realistic The England team is my priority, for obvious reasons.

It’s my job.”If the English dirt-trackers win at Bosman stadium tomorrow, as they are expected to do, Woodward’s job will look far more secure than it appeared after the Grand Slam misfire in Edinburgh in April. Four wins from five is not to be sniffed at, especially in South Africa. Thus far, the red rose army have hammered the Boks in one Test, failed by a narrow margin in the other and recorded 50-point victories in their two midweek games. “I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t play every bit as well against the Falcons,” the manager said.