England sticks by Johnson despite Nations flop
Source: Agencies |
March 26, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CONFIRMED again as England's manager to the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Martin Johnson said he'll also retain his staff for at least the summer tour of Australia and New Zealand.
England's strategy, selections and performances came in for heavy public criticism during a Six Nations campaign that flopped to third place with only two wins.
The results led to an English Rugby Football Union management board meeting on Wednesday, when the board decided Johnson will take the team to the World Cup in New Zealand "and that remains our position."
Board chairman Martyn Thomas said Johnson, who captained England to the 2003 World Cup title, had "the freedom to appoint the coaching team he thinks will best support him."
Johnson said on Wednesday he wasn't changing his staff of forwards coach John Wells, attack coach Brian Smith and defense coach Mike Ford. In defiance of the critics, he called their contributions "outstanding."
"I don't anticipate making any changes. I thought the coaches did an outstanding job this season, particularly in the autumn," Johnson said.
"I think the coaches have done a fantastic job in the face of criticism that is ill-informed a lot of the time in my opinion. We're in a results-driven business.
"The players know that. If they don't play very well they'll be out. If I don't do a very good job I won't be here very long, I understand that. It's the way it should be."
England has an 8-13 record in Johnson's two-year tenure at the helm.
England will next be seen in June in Australia playing the Wallabies twice along with two midweek games, and finishing against the New Zealand Maori in Napier to help celebrate the Maori's centenary.
England's strategy, selections and performances came in for heavy public criticism during a Six Nations campaign that flopped to third place with only two wins.
The results led to an English Rugby Football Union management board meeting on Wednesday, when the board decided Johnson will take the team to the World Cup in New Zealand "and that remains our position."
Board chairman Martyn Thomas said Johnson, who captained England to the 2003 World Cup title, had "the freedom to appoint the coaching team he thinks will best support him."
Johnson said on Wednesday he wasn't changing his staff of forwards coach John Wells, attack coach Brian Smith and defense coach Mike Ford. In defiance of the critics, he called their contributions "outstanding."
"I don't anticipate making any changes. I thought the coaches did an outstanding job this season, particularly in the autumn," Johnson said.
"I think the coaches have done a fantastic job in the face of criticism that is ill-informed a lot of the time in my opinion. We're in a results-driven business.
"The players know that. If they don't play very well they'll be out. If I don't do a very good job I won't be here very long, I understand that. It's the way it should be."
England has an 8-13 record in Johnson's two-year tenure at the helm.
England will next be seen in June in Australia playing the Wallabies twice along with two midweek games, and finishing against the New Zealand Maori in Napier to help celebrate the Maori's centenary.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
