Bullish Woodward sees Red

Clive Woodward today sent his congratulations to Liverpool on their Champions League victory – and backed the British & Irish Lions to mirror the Reds’ glory in New Zealand.

The Lions arrived in Auckland today to begin a seven-week odyssey they hope will end with an historic Test series win over the All Blacks.

The Lions have won only once in 10 attempts on New Zealand soil – John Dawes’ legendary tourists in 1971 – but Woodward is convinced the 2005 vintage have the makings of a “great Lions side”.

And even if some of the Lions could hardly control themselves as they laughed their way through Woodward’s address on he harbourside, they know that if all else fails at least they are wearing the right coloured jerseys.

“I’d like to say a word of congratulations to Liverpool Football Club. The whole squad sat at the airport watching the game. Unfortunately the plane left when the game went into penalties,” said Woodward.

“To hear on the plane that Liverpool had won on penalties was just fantastic. I’d like to pass on the team’s congratulations to Rafael Benitez and particularly Steven Gerrard, who I think is one of the world’s greatest players.

“I was reading all the hype leading into that game and there was some research done on the best colour to wear when you are playing competitive sport and it came out very clearly that winning teams wear red.

“It was interesting to see Liverpool win, to see Arsenal beat Manchester United wearing red in the FA Cup at the weekend.

“Clearly I am glad to be coaching a team wearing red.”

Woodward has a long-standing love of football and is set to move into coaching the sport, possibly with Southampton, when he finishes with the Lions in July.

But his chief focus for now is on making history and allowing Brian O’Driscoll to follow in the footsteps of Dawes in leading a Lions side to victory in New Zealand.

As the players left Auckland airport this morning with a Lion mascot on the front coach’s dashboard, a sole All Blacks supporter performed the haka, effectively laying down the challenge for the weeks that lie ahead.

That message will be reinforced on Sunday when the squad head to Rotorua for a traditional Maori welcome – and the challenge then begins in earnest on June 4, when O’Driscoll is expected to captain the Lions in their tour opener against Bay of Plenty.

But Woodward has no doubts at all that his side is geared up for success, which in his eyes would rank higher than leading England to the World Cup.

“The players here have been successful but if the British & Irish Lions were to win the Test series in New Zealand it would surpass any achievement any of us have achieved in the past,” he said.

“We come here with enormous respect for New Zealand rugby, for the New Zealand players and the New Zealand coaching staff – but we have no fear.

“I believe we can win. We have world class players and the challenge in the coming weeks is to blend them into a world class side.

“I have spent the most part of the last 12 months preparing for this day and it is fantastic to have arrived in New Zealand.

“There has been a lot of travelling but everyone is ready for the fantastic challenge ahead.

“I make no apologies for saying I believe this is the best prepared Lions tour in the history of Lions rugby. The squad has the makings of a great Lions Test side.”