Johnson: Injuries don't excuse mistakes

PA Sport - Sun, 08 Nov 12:14:00 2009

Martin Johnson refused to blame injury for Saturday's 18-9 defeat to Australia at Twickenham and vowed England would return a stronger team against Argentina next weekend.

England's players walk to the posts after the winning try by Australia's Adam Ashley-Cooper (not pictured) during their friendly international rugby union match at Twickenham, REUTERS - 0

England have lost half their first-choice squad for the entire autumn and fielded an unfamiliar side for the Cook Cup showdown. But despite securing reams of possession, they failed to threaten the Wallabies' line at any point and lacked imagination in attack.

"We've not talked about the injuries. That was the first game that team has played together but that doesn't excuse some things," he said.

"We will be better for that game. We'll improve on this for next week. We could have given ourselves a better chance of winning.

"We believe these guys are good enough to play in Test matches. Australia had been through the Tri-Nations and played a Test last weekend, we haven't.

"The leaders of this team have done a great job getting this team together."

England led 9-5 at half-time and looked comfortable, despite conceding a try to scrum-half and man of the match Will Genia.

But Australia dominated the second half with a second try from Adam Ashley-Cooper and eight points from the boot of Matt Giteau.

"We started very brightly and took the points when they were there," said Johnson. "It was disappointing to concede the try just before half-time and in the second half we struggled to get out of our own half.

"Both tries weren't good scores to give away but lots of positives came out of it, some of the young guys did pretty well."

PA Sport

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  1. Agree with the above. Borthwick demosntrates no­ leadership skills nor is he a lead by example player­ such asa Dallaglio. He is a hangover from a bygone era­ and needs to go. Johnson is as culpable for sticking­ with him. The current Wallabies outfit is one of the­ weakest of the professional era, lagging a long way­ behind Kiwis and Boks. No excuses for letting them win­ on our home turf and calling them battle hardened is a­ limp attempt at papering over some massive cracks.Some­ tough measures are required in drastically overhauling­ the current set up.

    From Jake GC

    From Jake, on Tue 10 Nov 7:10PM

  2. Borthwick's got to go! He's a useless captain­ and i don't understand why Johnson seems to see­ things differently...?! I'm thinking Lewis Moody­ should be given the captains arm band. He's an­ immense player who leads from the front, he puts his­ body on the line for his club and country. Giving him­ the captaincy would make him grow even more as a world­ class player and the team will then grow with him.
    I­ can't comment on a replacement second row­ 'cause i'm in New Zealand and don't get to­ see much premiership rugby, i do think Ben Kay should­ get a start though...
    The back line needs a reality­ check! All that ball won by the forwards thrown away by­ those useless pretty boys...Jonny Wilkinson being an­ exception. He had a great game and proves that he is­ still the best 10 in the world!

    From mark h, on Mon 9 Nov 7:12AM

  3. Clearly Martin Johnson is living on cloud cuckoo land. ­ This guy is not moving England rugby forward. And, why­ is Borthwick still captain? He can't gee up the­ players when things get tough. I personally think­ there should be a complete overhaul at the RFU from Rob­ Andrew down.

    From gavinloudon1972, on Mon 9 Nov 5:24AM
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