Johnno: I’m still the right man for the job
ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson has launched a passionate defence of his tenure after beefing up his team for Saturday’s Test against New Zealand.
Johnson yesterday handed Biarritz centre Ayoola Erinle a first international start at the age of 29 and recalled Wasps lock Simon Shaw following his return from injury.
They replace Shane Geraghty and Louis Deacon, while blind-side flanker Joe Worsley comes in for Tom Croft and Ugo Monye switches to wing, with Mark Cueto taking the full-back slot. A laboured victory over Argentina last weekend has failed to quell criticism of Johnson’s team, which has also been disrupted by rumours of conflict between coaches.
But despite former World Cup winner Josh Lewsey this week launching a scathing attack on the national set-up, Johnson insists he is still the right man for the job.
“Let’s not forget we won against Argentina, a fact that appears to have been lost,” said the former England captain.
“People pipe up with an opinion but we have to get on with it. We take it with a pinch of salt. Of course I still believe I’m up to it. You can’t deny the pressure is there but you deal with it. We won against Argentina and dug ourselves out of a hole to beat a team that is ranked fourth in the world.”
Erinle, who moved to France after falling out of favour at Leicester, won his first cap off the bench in the defeat to Australia earlier this month.
He provides a more powerful option than Geraghty, while 6ft 8in stalwart Shaw returns after missing the first two autumn internationals with a foot problem.
Versatile sale back Mathew Tait will be on the bench against the All Blacks along with Croft, Geraghty, Deacon and Bath prop David Wilson.
ENGLAND TO FACE NEW ZEALAND
STARTING XV: 15 Mark Cueto, 14 Matt Banahan, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Ayoola Erinle,
11 Ugo Monye, 10 Jonny Wilkinson,
9 PaulHodgson, 1 Tim Payne, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Duncan Bell, 4 Simon Shaw,
5 Steve Borthwick (capt), 6 Joe Worsley,
7 Lewis Moody, 8 James Haskell
Replacements: SteveThompson,
David Wilson, Louis Deacon, Tom Croft, DannyCare, Shane Geraghty, Mathew Tait