News

Johnson backing his squad

November 25 2008

Manager Martin Johnson insisted there would be no knee-jerk reaction to England's record home defeat when he names his side for Saturday's clash with New Zealand.

One of Johnson's themes through his first autumn series in charge has been the need for his young players to face down adversity and overcome it.

The challenge does not come much greater than this week, as Johnson's England attempt to bounce back from a crushing defeat to South Africa against the top-ranked team in the world.

"These players are learning the brutal, harsh lessons of our sport," said Johnson, who will announce his team at midday (GMT) on Tuesday.

"We won't be making wholesale changes, because these are the best people we have.

"This is when we find out about the character of this team, these are still our best players. We find out about the coaching staff, about myself.

"There is no 50-cap cavalry coming over the hill. We have to live with it, and handle it. This is our squad and we back them."

Johnson's hand may be forced to a certain extent if New Zealand-born inside centre Riki Flutey is ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Lock Tom Palmer is also struggling with a calf problem, prompting Johnson to call 2003 World Cup winning lock Ben Kay into the squad on Monday while Andrew Sheridan was still being treated for a neck problem.

Johnson will also have to make some tough decisions. Captain Steve Borthwick accepted there was a very real danger his squad's confidence would have been destroyed by the sheer size of Saturday's defeat.

Fly-half Danny Cipriani, for one, has struggled against both Australia and the Springboks and Mike Catt has urged Johnson to save him further torture against the All Blacks.

Johnson must decide whether it would do Cipriani more harm than good to face Dan Carter and New Zealand but the early indications were that he would stick by the Wasps fly-half.

England must beat the All Blacks for the first time since the summer of 2003 if they are to be seeded in the top four at the 2011 World Cup draw on December 1 and guarantee avoiding New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

England are currently fifth although they came within one conversion of moving up to fourth on Saturday, despite suffering such a home hammering.

If Ronan O'Gara had converted Tommy Bowe's try for Ireland against Argentina, their winning margin would have lifted England above the Pumas.