Woodward conceded that football did not have the same luxury and said: "Sven hasn't got that bonus".
Yet he added: "You don't get lucky in international sport - it's about preparation and hard work. If you get to a championship with your players in bits, then it's fingers crossed. That's not what it's about."
Asked if he believed football could follow the rugby path, he said: "I don't know. I just think it's very clear that we arrived as the best prepared team at the World Cup and that doesn't happen to many England sports teams."
Johnson, who finished runner-up to Wilkinson in the Sports Personality poll, reckoned the triumph had a wider significance for British sport.
"Sport's a serious business and rugby's been very fortunate to have the financial backing we've had," he said. "I'm sure a lot of other sports teams in this country would love to have that and would achieve more if they did."
Last night, the two sports were in perfect harmony as the World Cup winners of 1966, voted the Golden Team, shared the stage with Johnson's men. "The boys were thrilled to be up there with the guys of 1966 who are true, true legends," said Johnson.
Sir Steve Redgrave won the Golden Personality award to find the most outstanding previous winner while Lance Armstrong was Overseas Personality. Tennis legend Martina Navratilova won the Lifetime Achievement award, while ex-boxer Michael Watson won the Helen Rollason award for outstanding courage in the face of adversity.
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