England have a brilliant chance to beat New Zealand at Eden Park but they must put the pressure back on the All Blacks, writes SIR CLIVE WOODWARD

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At the 2003 World Cup, the England team I was coaching took a lot of criticism from the rugby media for our performance in the quarter-final victory over Wales.

It wasn’t our best game by any stretch and the Welsh gave us a real scare. But the most important thing was we won the game.

I remember after that Wales match, the decorated journalist Jeff Powell of Mail Sport – who is now an MBE – came up to me. Jeff couldn’t believe the flak I and the team had got.

He said that if England’s football side was progressing through a World Cup as the 2003 rugby team did, there would be no criticism whatsoever. In fact, it would be the complete opposite. Jeff pointed out that in big tournaments – whatever the sport – the only thing that counts is winning.

His view may seem obvious, but the clarity of Jeff’s thinking is something I will always remember. I’ll never forget Jeff’s comments because he was the only journalist after that Wales game who didn’t put the boot in. The general media consensus was England would be hammered by a brilliant French side in the semi-final.

England's football team have been criticised for their performances at the Euros but have still made the final

England played well against New Zealand last week but ended up losing by a single point

But the team produced one of the best displays of my tenure to beat France and then go on to lift the trophy after a tense final with Australia.

I was reminded of Jeff’s views this week ahead of a huge few days for English sport.

I’ve been disappointed but not surprised by the criticism England’s footballers and Gareth Southgate have had at EURO2024 in Germany. But as Jeff said, all that matters is success and England have done brilliantly to reach the final against Spain in Berlin. It will be brilliant if they can go on and finish the job on Sunday.

It could be an amazing English sporting weekend. It’s one I can’t wait for.

England’s football stars and Southgate as manager will seal their place in folklore if they win a first major tournament for the country in the men’s game since 1966.

But before that, on Saturday, England’s rugby team also has a chance to make history. Like the footballers against Spain, all that matters for Steve Borthwick and Co in Auckland is coming out the right side of the result. How they do it doesn’t matter, to be quite honest.

Everyone knows about New Zealand’s phenomenal record at Eden Park. But after losing their first Test with the All Blacks by the narrowest of margins, I believe Borthwick’s team can turn the tables. There is one key thing they need to work on to win this weekend.

England were in a great position to win last weekend but started playing not to lose rather than playing to win

Looking back on the first Test in Dunedin, England played fantastically in the opening 40.

But in the last 30 minutes, as the game went to the wire, I think they tightened up and set out not to lose the game rather than go out and win it.

This is a mindset shift England need to really work on. In my coaching career, I loved the phrase ‘pressure with pressure.’

Here's what I mean by that. When you’re under the pump from your opposition – maybe defending your own line for several minutes and many phases of play – the best sides don’t just soak up that pressure, but look to put it back on their rivals at the first opportunity.

Analysing the last half hour of the first Test in Dunedin, I think England were under enormous pressure but were not proactive enough in immediately putting some straight back on the All Blacks which they had several opportunities to do so. In essence, they started to play not to lose, rather than going all out to win the game.

The difference between the two is huge at the highest level.

The best example of ‘pressure with pressure’ I can think of was one England game I coached against the All Blacks. The team was defending our own line for over 30 phases. When we won the penalty, we didn’t slow the game down, take a breather, tap each other on the back in congratulations and kick to touch. That’s what poor teams do.

The very best sides look to put the pressure back on which was why I was delighted when the team immediately took a quick tap penalty and ran the ball away from our own try line.

The best thing about it was that it was Jason Leonard – a prop forward – who took the tap penalty! I remember the whole of Twickenham going wild at that!

England’s 2024 side is still learning and evolving, so it will take time for them to switch their mindset and have this sort of approach.

But it is fundamental to winning international rugby matches.

England must take the game to New Zealand and put the pressure back on the All Blacks at Eden Park

Steve Borthwick has been consistent with his selection and now needs his players to step up and start winning matches

England certainly have the players to do it. They have made huge strides in the last few months and I’m confident Borthwick can continue to evolve the team both in terms of playing style and the top two inches. I think England have a brilliant chance of winning at Eden Park.

Borthwick’s continuity in selection is fantastic. Gone are the days of the unnecessary chopping and changing which undermined the team. 

Fin Baxter starting at prop in place of the injured Joe Marler is England’s only switch for Auckland. If Borthwick’s players deliver the same level of performance they did last weekend, are brave in the heat of battle, and adopt the ‘pressure with pressure’ mantra, then they can win to level the series. 

Doing so would be an historic moment and a huge fillip for the progression of this England side.

The same applies to England’s footballers, who face an excellent and smart Spanish team. They will undoubtedly have difficult periods in the game, but if they respond with equal pressure and take the initiative in those key moments, I am sure they can bring football home. It could be a weekend to remember for our country in both rugby and football.

Come on England!