Winning!

Clive Woodward was at the helm when English rugby union triumphantly heaved itself from the boozy, pot-bellied mire of amateurism to the top of the professional game at the 2003 World Cup in Australia. And in Winning he makes a robust, cogent and at times brilliant argument for taking the lion's share of the credit. As sports autobiographies go this is an extraordinary book, part personal memoir and part historical revision, of course - Woodward is not backward in correcting his critics or laying bare the politics that shroud top-level sports managers. But what sets it apart is that the former England coach presents a detailed analysis of the man-management and coaching theories that underpinned the success, in what is effectively a case study in winning. To this end there is an abundance of diagrams, flow charts and 'key rules' which at first glance will have a worryingly familiar look to anyone who's ever sat through a motivational business seminar. They formed the day-to-day intellectual touchstones that were the foundation of the Woodward era, covering the 75 matches between November 1997 and that famous victory in the Telstra Stadium. And in a sporting turn-up akin to Jonny Wilkinson's last-ditch drop-goal that felled the Aussies in Sidney, Woodward takes these unpromising raw ingredients and delivers a genuinely engrossing read: a how-to manual for aspiring coaches and an unique insight for fans. The tone is occasionally bombastic - whatever the veracity of their substance, one or two of the recounted conversations ring about as true as an episode of Acorn Antiques, but somehow it doesn't get in the way. Midway through the book, there's a rather peculiar "Author's note about confidentiality" in which Woodward claims that he will never: "show any player or member of the management in any sort of bad light". Not fashionable and frankly not much fun, but arguably entirely in keeping with the Winning philosophy . And you can't argue with results, can you?--Alex Hankin

View other editions of Winning!.
View books by Clive Woodward.

Building winning - Rated
I started this book expecting the gossip, half baked platitudes of the world champions' coach and the mantra of 'my family has always been the most important etc'. And instead, I got honest, considered thoughts of a coach who struggled with his business, his bosses and his team in his attempts to transform the English rugby team. His loyalty to all means he doesn't dish the dirt and he is only ever critical of his own performance. However, where the book does score big time; Woodward outlines the techniques he employed to change the staid English team. For a sports coach, he was ahead of his time in his willingness to examine new ideas and apply them to team performance. This weaving of the introduction of techniques and the chronology towards victory is well executed and very readable. My only niggle with the book is that I would have liked to have known what effect the techniques had on the team dynamic and may be even what did he try and abandon ? But, having said all that; you will get a good view of the coach's role in a change environment, some excellent team ideas ( for business or sport ) and a cracking story of a famous English victory.

This is not a review of the Lyons tour - Rated
Anyone who has built a high performing team will know it does not happen overnight. This is an insight into the building of the winning team that led to a national celebration using skills that are transferable into the business world. If you want to know about the Lyons tour buy another book and learn what happens when you can't apply the right techniques to a team.

Sports Book & Management Book - Bargain! - Rated
I was lucky enough to review a signed copy of this book from Clive himself as he did a speech at our annual corporate event.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book from the perspective of both a sports and management book.

I find it interesting the most recent reviews giving the book a low score purely on the performance of the Lions tour. I think anyone reading the book would have picked up is that to be successful in either business or sports management takes time. Something that on a Lions tour you do not have.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and a book that I keep in my office and review on a regular basis.

Buy It!

Bad for Rugby - Rated
My personal opinion is that he was bad for rugby, confirmed by the Lions tour. So I would not be buying his book.

Worth the read - Rated
I just finished reading this book. The content of the book should not be judged by Clive's performance on the Lions tour.
I would rate this book as very good and worth a read. There are many ideas there that you can pick up and implement in whatever you are doing.