Clive Woodward wants to stay as England coach for at least five more years.

He has made no secret of his love for the England job, despite criticism levelled at him for crucial defeats in the Six Nations.

But Woodward has now guided England to the top of the World Rankings, and they are rated as significant contenders for next year's World Cup. And he aims to continue as coach until the following World Cup in 2007.

"I love the job," he admitted. "I'm very lucky. I live the job. I can't get away from it. I don't want to get away from it. It suits my character and I thrive on it. It's no different to Alex Ferguson. Why give away one of the great jobs.?"

Woodward was appointed England coach in 1997, with his first two years full of disappointments. Heavy defeats in 1998, namely a 76-0 drubbing in Australia, was followed in 1999 by defeat against Wales at Wembley to miss out on the Grand Slam and then defeat against South Africa in the World Cup quarter-final.

Since then success has regularly come England's way, and despite two more vital Six Nations defeats against Scotland and Ireland, victories have come recently against South Africa and Australia.

Speaking to the News of the World, Woodward said: "I categorise my career in two parts - pre-1999 World Cup and what's happened since. No one can underestimate the appalling political situation in those first two years in terms of rows between the RFU and the clubs.

"Our chances of doing well in that World Cup with what I inherited, the team, the fixtures and all the rows, were pretty slim compared to the three other major teams, who were way ahead of us at that stage. Only since that World Cup have I been able to do my job properly.

"If you look at the rankings, we've gone from fifth to first. No one's getting carried away with that but it shows we're going in the right direction."

Woodward's England have had the perfect start to their 2002 Six Nations campaign, with comprehensive wins against Scotland and Ireland.

Next Saturday England take on France, with the game at Twickenham set to be a potential title decider.