Six Nations - Johnson resists widespread changes

Eurosport - Thu, 12 Mar 12:58:00 2009

England manager Martin Johnson explains why he resisted the urge for a widespread reassessment after back-to-back defeats by Wales and Ireland.

Martin Johnson - England - 0

Wing Paul Sackey, struggling with a calf strain, is replaced by Ugo Monye but the Wasps winger would have been dropped anyway on form grounds.

Simon Shaw (pictured), 35 and in his 13th year as an international, comes into the second row for Nick Kennedy while Tom Croft starts on the flank for James Haskell.

Kennedy, one of England's more impressive performers in the championship so far, and Haskell drop to the bench as Johnson looks to add bulk to his pack.

"Nick is a bit unlucky but it's just about the balance of the players on the field," Johnson said.

Shaw's first flirtation with England came as long ago as 1994 when he replaced Johnson in the party touring South Africa, though injury ruled him out of the following year's World Cup and he did not make his debut until 1996.

"You know what you are getting with Simon," said Johnson.

"He's been around a long time and he's a big strong man. He's been unlucky with injuries and it's been a very competitive position."

Not so when it comes to his second-row partner Steve Borthwick, however, as Johnson dismissively brushed off criticism of his captain by saying: "He has done and is doing a tremendous job."

Johnson had threatened to come down hard on the miscreants after the tidal wave of penalties and yellow cards that have made England's task so difficult in the three games so far but Phil Vickery and Danny Care, both sin-binned against Ireland, keep their respective places in the front row and on the bench.

"Danny made a mistake, as did others, and there were dire consequences for him and the team," Johnson said of the scrumhalf's needless charge into the back of Marcus Horan.

"It was a harsh lesson learned and I don't think he'll ever do anything like that again."

"We've only given a few penalties away in training," Johnson said, in a rare light moment.

"We had a great session last week with (international referee) Wayne Barnes. If you cut out the four or five silly ones you can work on the other critical ones.

"It's easy to talk about it though and we've got to do it in the heat of the moment."

England, with those two defeats and only a victory over Italy to their name, are out of the running for the championship they have not won since 2003 but France are back in the hunt for a third title in four years following their home win over holders Wales last time out.

England team to face France:

15 Delon Armitage (London Irish)

14 Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks)

13 Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby)

12 Riki Flutey (London Wasps)

11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins)

10 Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)

9 Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers)

1 Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks)

2 Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)

3 Phil Vickery (London Wasps)

4 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, captain)

5 Simon Shaw (London Wasps)

6 Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)

7 Joe Worsley (London Wasps)

8 Nick Easter (Harlequins)

Replacements:

16 Dylan Hartley ((Northampton Saints)

17 Julian White (Leicester Tigers)

18 Nick Kennedy (London Irish)

19 James Haskell (London Wasps)

20 Danny Care (Harlequins)

21 Andy Goode (CA Brive)

22 Mathew Tait (Sale Sharks)

Reuters

Comment 1 - 18 of 18

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  1. Borthwick made excuses for his teams ill discipline !­ He does not take any responsibility or show anger - can­ you imagine what Jono would have said if he had been­ the captain ! Where is the spirit within the England­ team to Win ?*!*!
    The trouble is the backs look slow­ and are out of position trying to keep up , hence the­ problems they create for themselves - they must get­ fitter and quicker to give themselves a chance.Dani no­ Care ! what a stupid twonk ...

    From helen902, on Thu 12 Mar 10:12AM

  2. The Captain of the England Rugby team should be the­ first name on the team sheet in his own right as the­ best player in that position in the country. Borthwick­ is not!

    From , on Wed 11 Mar 11:35PM

  3. haskell out and croft in, for bulk, did i read that­ right. atleast he won't be put on in second row!

    From a.bonfield, on Wed 11 Mar 11:20PM
  4. Comment hidden due to it's low rating. Show

    Really ?lol.........Just heard that he is ho-oking up­ with a nice gi-rl on the inter-esting cl-ub called:­ ____T all min gle Co M____, really ? Sounds it is a­ famoaus on-line service.

    From tracymmkiss, on Wed 11 Mar 10:42PM

  5. About time Simon Shaw got a recall!! They need a­ grafter in the pack and an old head is what's­ needed against the French.

    From gusser69, on Wed 11 Mar 8:58PM

  6. Respect to Martin J for showing his faith in the team­ and demanding improvements. Self disciplne goes hand­ in hand with self respect and this is the way to­ achieve it. Maybe he can have a word with the All­ Blacks about their sloppy scrummages now

    From Annie, on Wed 11 Mar 6:18PM

  7. Andy Goode was involved in most of the good rugby­ played by England in this tournament. Flood didn't­ show much, and Johnson should have stuck with his prime­ move of selecting Goode.

    From xaviera, on Wed 11 Mar 6:10PM

  8. I know Goode is a hot and cold man but, let's face­ it Flood is pretty tepid at best. The previous time­ on the field for Goode has been productive so what does­ he have to do to be the starting man; at least he­ usually can catch the ball.

    From phillill, on Wed 11 Mar 4:59PM

  9. Good luck to England on Sunday.....lets think positive,­ and give them some support.

    From chilledout47, on Wed 11 Mar 4:45PM
  10. Comment hidden due to it's low rating. Show

    michelle.pakes,

    Thanks - Im a silly billy - apart from­ the fact I'm not called billy!

    From ad_rogers, on Wed 11 Mar 4:13PM

  11. I really want England to win against France, hopefully­ that is the case cause it'll be a nightmare for M.­ Johnson if they dont.

    From lordcassernx, on Wed 11 Mar 4:06PM

  12. Good call with shaw ,shaw is something the england pack­ needs a big strong no holds forward ,as for vickory i­ thought he was married to fern britton and danny care­ are we really so short of decent scrum halfs he is a­ joke

    From tonycattell, on Wed 11 Mar 3:52PM

  13. ad_rogers
    david strettle was brought in as cover for­ paul, if he didnt recover from injury. he didnt recover­ so david had been definatley brought into the squad for­ the whole championship, this doesnt mean that whoever­ was brought in a cover plays instead of this person,­ they are just in for selection. this is the same case­ for shane geraghty and them bringing olly. i hope this­ clears up your confusion.

    From Michelle, on Wed 11 Mar 3:46PM

  14. looks the best side for england this six nations but­ vickery should go will cost england at least 6 points­ .but i think england will win by 3 to 5 points.

    From alan, on Wed 11 Mar 3:15PM

  15. Haskell has been dropped for Croft because he becomes a­ second receiver in the line out because Borthwickis­ incapable in the line out. England could have brought­ Shaw in and kept Kennedy and had 2 solid second row­ players. But then you lose Borthwick who can't­ catch the ball in a line out. Doesn't make ground­ carrying the ball and misses tackles. He must only hold­ onto his place by the fact he keeps the team so well­ DISCIPLINED.

    From Salamander, on Wed 11 Mar 2:31PM

  16. Agree with both, especially Borthwick. He's done­ very little and the captain needs to be one of the­ first names on the team sheet.

    From chrishorne99, on Wed 11 Mar 2:25PM

  17. What the hell have we dropped Haskell for? He has been­ one of very few forwards who actually does something­ with the ball in hand - Easter should be out as he has­ been poor throughout the 6N and Autumn Internationals­ and Haskell in his place. Vickery, Borthwick and­ Tindall should have been dropped along time ago

    From D R, on Wed 11 Mar 1:54PM

  18. The best team we've started with this year. Shame­ for Strettle though. I thought he was going to cover­ for Sackey. Borthwick must go at the end of this Six­ Nations, with Mears vunerable as well.

    From ad_rogers, on Wed 11 Mar 1:16PM
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