Wales schools rejected me – I would’ve been their best player! SIR CLIVE WOODWARD on the one match England don’t want to lose – and what keeps him up at night

England against Wales is a special match. Of all the countries where you play in the Six Nations, this is always the country with the most needles on the field.

It’s the one match you don’t want to lose. Wales were also a special team for me to play against and coach because of the rugby training I had in their system.

I went to HMS Conway on Anglesey in North Wales between 1969 and 1974. Since I couldn’t play my beloved football, I turned to rugby. It coincided with the pinnacle of Welsh rugby, a national team full of true greats, including two of my heroes: Barry John and JPR Williams. Because of my training I once attended a Welsh School trial.

Two guys by the name of Terry Holmes and Gareth Davies were there as starting half-backs. What careers they had! No one had heard of me when I arrived for the trial.

Despite qualifying through my Welsh school, I soon developed a sense of discomfort as to why an English child was considered to represent Wales. I played well.

As a boy, one of Woodward’s rugby heroes was Wales titans Barry John (pictured in 1971)

JPR Williams (pictured in 1979) – who died early this year – was another Welsh legend

To be honest, I thought I was the best player there! But I didn’t come in.

It turned out very differently in the end. A year later I had left school and was playing for an England Colts team against Wales Youth at Twickenham.

Holmes and Davies were both involved again in red shirts. But we won.

A few years later, in 1980, I played for England against Wales at Twickenham. And yes, you guessed it, Holmes and Davies both started!

That match will be remembered for a long time. Paul Ringer was sent off to Wales in a dirty match and we beat them 9-8! Dusty Hare kicked three penalties.

England won the Grand Slam that year and a few months later I was on the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa with Holmes and other great Welshmen such as Ray Gravell and Davies.

Long-time Wales team manager Alan Philips was also on that tour as a hooker. Gravell was an absolute legend. I stayed with him.

God knows how I survived. He was as angry as a hatter.

Ray Gravell (center, in 1980) staying with Woodward during the 1980 British and Irish Lions tour

Warren Gatland’s side are always a tough nut to crack for England, regardless of current form

When Ray was with us and after he retired, he did TV work like me. Every match we worked on in England and Wales he always came to see me.

I dreaded those moments! That’s because even though I was standing on the field in my suit, Ray would slam me into the ground and yell, “I always told you you were a soft core!” It happened at every major match between our two countries. Ray’s death in 2007 was very sad. This also applies to the deaths of other Welsh greats in Williams and John this year.

When I was at Conway, people like JPR were heroes to us. That was a golden period for Welsh rugby and all of us – even those of us born in England – idolized those players.

That goes some way to explaining why England vs Wales is special to me. But it’s the same for every player and coach who gets the chance to be involved in this historic match.

I was lucky enough to have had a pretty good record against Wales over the course of my career. But the Welsh will never let me forget Wembley in 1999 and Scott Gibbs trying.

Me neither, let me tell you! With my love for football I was devastated when I lost at Wembley.

They say you never lose, you just learn. Well, we learned a hell of a lot that day. We also suffered a serious wobble in the 2003 Rugby World Cup quarter-final, falling behind Wales at half-time. The thought of what life would have been like if we had lost that game still keeps me awake. Thank goodness for Jason Robinson.

England were lucky to escape the clutches of Wales in the quarter-final of the 2003 Rugby World Cup

England have a little less to fear now that Wales are away from the cauldron of the Principality Stadium

Wales are always a tough nut to crack and that was especially the case when Warren Gatland was their head coach.

I would be nervous if this England team traveled to Cardiff this weekend.

But I’m not sure Wales are as formidable an opponent when on the road. For the meeting between the two sides in 2024, England must and must win. I don’t see them losing.

That prediction might come back to bite me. But Wales are a very young and inexperienced team.

Although England will need to improve on their win over Italy, they should go into the third round with two wins from two. Losing at home to Wales would be a huge disappointment.

There’s a saying doing the rounds in Test rugby these days: ‘Attack both sides of the ball.’ I’ve heard Steve Borthwick and his England players say it many times.

In old money that means you have to be good at attack and defense! It is hardly a revolutionary term. To be successful at international level you obviously need good defense.

But what I would like to see this England team focus on is their attack. I’ve heard captain Jamie George and his players talk about reconnecting the national team with the public and making Twickenham difficult. The team wants the fans to be on their feet and going wild with excitement.

Jamie George (centre) has highlighted the importance of a fiery atmosphere at Twickenham

Nothing would make me happier than seeing that.

As important as good defense is, it doesn’t make the fans jump for joy as their team scores thrilling tries. England showed signs of promise in attacking Italy.

But it may be the Welsh who double down on the attacking and expansive play that almost produced an incredible comeback against Scotland. As a young and inexperienced side, evoking the fast and ruthless style of Wales in the 1970s is not a bad blueprint to follow.

It won’t be easy, but England should have enough for victory – a victory that will hopefully give me bragging rights among my Welsh friends for another year.