Danny Cipriani has been dropped from the England side for the match against New Zealand at Twickenham on Saturday. The Wasps fly-half has come under fire after poor individual performances against Australia and South Africa and has now paid the price. Leicester’s Toby Flood comes into the starting line up at fly-half with Cipriani having [...]
Johnson prepared for SA Test
England coach Martin Johnson says his side know exactly how big the challenge ahead of them is as they prepare to take on world champions South Africa at Twickenham tomorrow. It is the first time the two sides have met since the Springboks triumphed in the World Cup final and Johnson believes they are worthy [...]
Mears happy to shoulder scrum criticism
England Hooker Lee Mears has admitted that England were out scrummaged by Australia, which had a big part to play in the 14-28 defeat. After England’s victory over Australia in the World Cup, where the scrum played a key role, it was expected by many that this would again prove a huge weapon. However, Mears [...]
Wasted opportunities cost England – Johnson
Martin Johnson believes England were the architects of their own downfall in the 28-14 defeat to Australia at Twickenham. England gave away 10 penalties which Johnson admits cost them dearly, but believes it was his side’s inability to create in Australia’s 22 that made the crucial difference. “I don’t think indiscipline cost us. Yes we [...]
Palmer and Vickery return for England
Phil Vickery and Tom Palmer will return to the starting line-up when England face Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, Vickery gets the nod in favour of Matt Stevens, while Palmer comes in for Nick Kennedy in an otherwise unchanged England side. Coach Martin Johnson singled out Vickery for special praise commenting, “Phil is our most [...]
Johnson backs new boys to shine
Martin Johnson believes the four uncapped players who will start for England tomorrow should have no fears going into the game. Delon Armitage, Riki Flutey, Ugo Monye and Nick Kennedy get their first caps against the Pacific Islanders in an vastly inexperienced England side. Despite the shortage of caps, Johnson doesn’t see his selection as [...]
Flutey proud to wear England shirt
Riki Flutey says he can’t wait to pull on the England shirt as he prepares to make his debut against the Pacific Islanders on Saturday. The 28-year-old admits he will never let go of his New Zealand heritage but is delighted with the opportunity he has been given by Martin Johnson. “I was born and [...]
Guscott backs Johnson’s captaincy choice
Jeremy Guscott believes Martin Johnson has made the right choice in keeping Steve Borthwick on as captain for the Autumn tests. The former England centre commented in his BBC Sport column that if anyone knew the kind of person who was needed to captain the England side, it was Johnson. Guscott said, “Borthwick is a [...]
England team set to be given new look
Up to 5 players could be given their England debuts when they take on the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham on Saturday. Delon Armitage, Ugo Monye, Riki Flutey, Dylan Hartley and Nick Kennedy are all expected to either start or feature from the bench, as injuries continue to be a problem for England’s more established stars. [...]
Flood delighted with Johnson management
Toby Flood has told BBC Sport how happy he is with the way Martin Johnson coaches the side and praised his dedication to the job. The 23-year-old Leicester man has been in sparkling form for his club and believes with Johnson as national coach, he will only improve. “After every club game we have a [...]
England release stars for club duty
England have allowed eight players to be released from their training camp so they can play for their club sides in the EDF Energy Cup. Olly Barkley, Wasps duo Josh Lewsey and Tim Payne, George Chuter, Jordan Crane, Dan Hipkiss, Shane Geraghty and Peter Richards have all been allowed to join up with their club [...]
Boris keen on staging World Cup
Boris Johnson believes that London and England in general would be the perfect location for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The RFU have submitted an application to stage the competition and the new mayor of London has offered his full support for the campaign. He commented, “I think it would be wonderful for London if [...]
Johnson returns troops to Pennyhill
Martin Johnson has decided to return the England squad to Pennyhill Park Hotel in Surrey, for training sessions and preparation in the run-up to matches. It was at Pennyhill that England prepared prior to the successful 2003 World Cup campaign and Johnson is happy to be heading back there. He commented, “Pennyhill ticks all the [...]
Johnson demands respect and responsibility
Martin Johnson says he will not stand for England players acting irresponsibly and claims the squad are united in their stance not to see a repeat of the fiasco in New Zealand. A number of England players faced serious allegations of a sexual nature whilst in staying at the team hotel in Auckland. Despite no [...]
Bundy and Burgess join England set up
Martin Johnson has bolstered his backroom staff by recruiting Mike Bundy and Rob Burgess. Bundy joins as team doctor after successful spells with the Saxons team and UK Athletics, while Burgess is the new operations manager, a role he undertook in his time with Gloucester. And Martin Johnson is delighted with his two recruits, commenting [...]
Ashton not interested in Academy role
Former England head coach Brian Ashton isn’t interested in becoming the new manager of the National Academy. After parting ways with the England set-up in April after leading the side to the World Cup final, Ashton has been invited back to help develop the next crop of national stars. However, Ashton has rejected the role [...]
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Smith finally joins England set up
Brian Smith has finally put pen to paper on a deal to become the new England attack coach, after weeks of speculation. The London Irish director of rugby become Martin Johnson’s first appointment as head coach and says he is delighted to be in board. Smith commented, “The opportunity to coach at international level comes [...]
Baptism of fire for Johnson
Martin Johnson faces possibly the three most difficult matches that any England head coach has had to start with, as he prepares to go head to head with the Pacific Islands, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in his first four games in charge. However, Johnson is fully aware of the challenge that lays ahead [...]
Johnson ready to be judged
Martin Johnson says he knows how he will be judged as England head coach and that’s by how well the team performs out on the field. However, Johnson said he was disappointed by the England team’s conduct in New Zealand and such behaviour was unacceptable for the national side. He commented, “The allegations made against [...]
Johnson wields England axe
Martin Johnson has named his first England elite squad and left out some high profile names as he tries to create a team in his own image. Mike Tindall, Ben Kay and Joe Worsley are the most notable absentees but Dave Strettle and Nick Easter have also missed out with all five being relegated to [...]
Cipriani hopeful of swift return
Wasps and England star Danny Cipriani is targeting a return to action by the end of November, following his horror injury picked up against Bath late on in the season. The fly-half suffered a fracture dislocation of his right ankle in what was one of the worst injuries seen all year. However, Cipriani remains positive [...]
Smith ready to take up role
Brian Smith is expected to be formerly announced as England’s new attacking coach early next week, ending his association with London Irish. Irish are said to be unhappy at the manner in which Smith has negotiated his way out of the club, with news of the deal going public some weeks ago. However, the RFU [...]
RFU conduct their own England investigation
The RFU will hold their own internal investigation into the conduct of England players while on tour in New Zealand. Auckland police continue to investigate a claim that four England players were involved in a sexual assault on a woman despite the fact the men in question have now returned home. However, the RFU are [...]
Johnson would have prevented England problems
Ian McGeechan believes that the problems England faced both on and off the pitch in New Zealand might have been prevented had Martin Johnson been on the tour. England returned home yesterday with two defeats and a sexual assault investigation hanging over four of the players. McGeechan commented, “It is important that management and senior [...]