Tough test appeals to Woodward

Clive Woodward believes that Saturday’s showdown with France at the 60,000-capacity Stade Velodrome is perfect World Cup preparation.

England, unbeaten in 14 Tests since France toppled them in Paris last year, expect to meet a full-strength home side.

And Marseilles is a major French rugby hot-bed, a city where the national team’s recent scalps include both New Zealand and Australia.

Woodward, though, who has made 10 changes from the side that humiliated Wales in record-breaking fashion last weekend, is relishing the challenge.

“It is going to be a very special atmosphere on Saturday night, but it’s just the cauldron, pressure-cooker type occasion we want to create,” he said.

“It is about winning on Saturday and keeping the momentum going, which would be a huge achievement, given where we are playing and who we are playing against.”

Back-to-back Tests against France – the countries clash at Twickenham on Saturday week – provide a stark contrast with England’s World Cup preparations four years ago.

Then, the build-up featured appointments with the USA, Canada and two hastily-assembled Premiership All Stars XVs.

“It wasn’t the right preparation four years ago,” head coach Woodward conceded.

“We ended up winning games by 100 points, so from our point of view, to be playing France twice is great preparation.

“There is no doubt that we will be pushed to the limit by France. This is a full-on Test match, and a great opportunity for England in a great fixture.

“We are not hiding – there is no point hiding before the World Cup. We want to front-up on Saturday.”

The Marseilles clash is the second of England’s three World Cup warm up games, and offers a gilt-edged opportunity for full-back Iain Balshaw and scrum half Austin Healey, who are both back in the Test match fold following prolonged injury problems.

“Iain Balshaw and Austin Healey have had to endure a long time out of the game, so Saturday will be a big day for them, a day I am confident they will live up to,” Woodward said.

Fly half Paul Grayson and centre Ollie Smith are also looking to catch Woodward’s eye as the countdown gathers momentum towards his announcement of the 30-man England World Cup squad on September 8.

The captaincy job has been given to 35-year-old Leicester hooker Dorian West, one of seven Tigers players in the team, and although his elevation will surprise many, Woodward has no doubt about West’s credentials.

The coach said: “Dorian’s captaincy appointment is well deserved. Although he has captained the England A team earlier this year, this is his first opportunity to lead the senior side in an international – I am confident he will lead by example.”

England have based themselves in the French countryside an hour’s drive north of Marseilles, where temperatures this week have nudged the 100 degree Fahrenheit mark.

Lock Simon Shaw, among the replacements on Saturday, will join the squad later today after spending some time with his family following the birth of his baby daughter.

French coach Bernard Laporte, meanwhile, is expected to unveil his starting line-up tomorrow, and all the signs are that it will be the strongest available team he can parade.