The 48-year-old, who led the national side to its finest moment when his players beat Australia 20-17 with an extra time drop goal from Jonny Wilkinson, was speaking after collecting his knighthood from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for his years of service to rugby union.

Woodward resigned his role as head coach in September and is to lead the Lions to New Zealand in June next year.

He said after the ceremony that he was glad to have moved on and added he was now 100% focused on securing victory for the Lions.

“I stepped down as head coach as I’d been doing the job for seven years and that’s quite a long time in this job, so it was the right time to move on. I wish the team and Andy Robinson, the new coach, every success.

“Now I am in charge of the Lions and I am tremendously looking forward to it. We don’t play until next June but I am really enjoying it.

“The job is just to make sure all the Ts are crossed and all the Is are dotted. My job is very straightforward and I just want to give the Lions every chance to be successful.”

He said he was enjoying working with teams that in the past he had gone all out to defeat as England coach.

“I am really enjoying it working closely with the Welsh, Scots and Irish, who normally I’ve tried to beat but now I am working with them.”

Woodward, who had planned to leave rugby union after the Lions tour, said he has not entirely ruled out a return to the sport he is so passionate about.

Woodward, who has already applied to take his Grade 2 footballing coaching badge, remained tight-lipped about whether or not his future lies with Premiership football – in particular at Southampton.

He said: “I am not necessarily going into football. I am just concentrating on the rugby at the moment. We will discuss that when the Lions is all over. In the meantime I am just concentrating 100% on rugby.”

Woodward was joined at the palace by his wife, Jayne, and three children Jessica, 17, Joe, 15, and Freddie, 10, who watched him receive his knighthood.

He said of his honour: “It’s a huge honour and a huge testimony to the whole team and I would just like to say a big thanks to everyone. It is just such an honour to accept it on behalf of the team and all those at the RFU and those at Twickenham who have supported me over the last seven years.”

He also paid tribute to Jonny Wilkinson for picking up an award for the Best Television Sporting Moment, for his infamous drop goal, at the national TV Awards earlier this week.

“It was a pretty special moment, not only for him but for the whole team and the whole country. He is a very special player and the whole of England is lucky to have him.”

Wilkinson and other members of the England team were at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday to collect medals for services to rugby.