News

Johnson to instil winning ethos

October 30 2008

Martin Johnson could terrify opponents just by looking at them - whether it was for Leicester, England or the Lions.

Then, when the anthems were over, he would turn from terrifier to terminator as arguably the greatest pound for pound player English rugby has ever seen.

Now, it is time for Martin Johnson England Manager - and early indications suggest Mike Bassett is nowhere to be seen around the red rose brigade at their leafy Surrey training base.

Unlike the unforgettable fictitious Ricky Tomlinson character, whose memorable moments including falling off his chair at a packed press conference, Johnson doesn't fumble his way through anything.

What you see is what you get - and that's pretty much what England need at the moment.

When England tackle reigning world champions South Africa at Twickenham on November 22, it will be the fifth anniversary of Johnson holding aloft rugby union's glittering golden prize - the Webb Ellis Trophy.

But from England's perspective, it has proved a totally forgettable five years, even allowing for an odds-defying World Cup final appearance in 2007.

Johnson is now the fifth man in charge - that includes Rob Andrew's dismal two-game tenure as tour manager to New Zealand this summer - since England flew home from Australia as kings of planet rugby.

World Cup mastermind Sir Clive Woodward's reign only lasted another eight Tests, then Andy Robinson was in charge for 22 games before Brian Ashton also worked a 22-match shift.

Counting the two All Blacks defeats in June, England's 54 Tests post-2003 World Cup have produced 30 losses and only 24 wins.

If ever a rugby nation on earth needed stability, consistency and sustained success, then England currently fit that bill.

Johnson is not an individual noted for looking back. What's done is done, what's gone is gone, but you can bet your last 10 pence that he will not tolerate any repeat of the dross England have frequently served up.

Johnson, as he will repeatedly tell you, has a simple philosophy when it comes to international rugby matches.

It is called winning.

England, as the record books show, have lost that habit during the past five years.

Their best run of victories came during the 2007 World Cup, when they recorded successive victories over Samoa, Tonga, Australia and France.

On two occasions, England have lost four games on the bounce, but that was all eclipsed by a demoralising seven-match run during 2006 that ultimately cost Robinson his job.

Johnson, a self-confessed statistical anorak, is fully aware the results haven't stacked up. Reasons why - or excuses for - do not really matter, because it is about the here and now.

So what will be made of Johnson's England during the next month?

The Pacific Islands, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand provide considerable opposition, yet England's minimum requirement must be two victories, with perhaps three needed to make the autumn a success.

Vibes emanating from the England camp suggest much-improved lines of communication between coaches and players - a far clearer picture created by everyone being on the same wavelength.

Johnson is due to name his first England team next Tuesday, a starting XV that should prove too strong for the Islanders, who are first-up at Twickenham on Saturday week.

But it might not all be plain sailing.

Two of England's back-three could be the uncapped pair of London Irish full-back Delon Armitage and Harlequins wing Ugo Monye, while New Zealand-born inside centre Riki Flutey is another probable debutant.

Likely half-backs Danny Cipriani and Danny Care have just five caps between them - although Cipriani's media profile might suggest he has 105 - and the back-row constitution is not as clear as it looked during the summer.

James Haskell, Tom Rees and Luke Narraway proved a beacon amid the gloom of England's New Zealand tour, yet Wasps flanker Haskell has struggled to reproduce that form this season. If Johnson selects on merit - and there is no reason to suggest he won't - then the prodigiously-talented Leicester forward Tom Croft must start, with Haskell on the bench.

Moulding it all together will be captain Steve Borthwick, who is straight out of the Johnson school whereby rugby is regarded as a simple game - in other words, be direct, be confrontational, and ultimately, be a winner.

What intrigues me though, is how long will the Johnson honeymoon be allowed to last?

Robinson found that time, in the end, wasn't on his side, while Ashton was rushed out of Twickenham with such indecent haste that six months on, it still leaves a sour taste.

Imagine if England lose three out of four this autumn, then finish mid-table in the Six Nations - eminently possible, given they face Wales in Cardiff and Ireland in Dublin - what would be the verdict?

One senses that whatever happens during the next five months, Johnson and his Rugby Football Union employers are in for the long haul, which could just bring a wry smile to the faces of Messrs Robinson and Ashton.

Besides, only someone with extreme masochistic tendencies would even dream of handing Johnson his P45.

By Andrew Baldock