Johnson eyes Lions of 2009
Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:52
Former British & Irish Lions captain Martin Johnson believes that the balance of the squad selected for the 2009 tour to South Africa will be of "vital" importance. Johnson guided the Lions to victory in South Africa in 1997 before leading the side to Australia four years later, while the former Leicester lock also played in eight Tests over three tours for the Home Unions. And having completed the clean sweep of tours for the Lions, Johnson is being widely tipped to travel to South Africa again - although this time in a coaching capacity. The Lions committee are not due to make an announcement of the coaching team until after next year's Six Nations, with the squad unlikely to be named until after the 2009 edition of the tournament. And Johnson believes whoever is in charge needs to get the right players on board if the Lions are to topple the Boks again. "The selection is vital. You need to get the right people and characters - strong people and strong characters," he said. "Seven weeks away is a difficult thing to do, especially playing against the world champions, so it is going to be tough. "The guys will need to rely on each other to get through." The Lions will travel to the Springboks on the back of having been whitewashed by the All Blacks in 2005. However Johnson, who retired from rugby after leading England to the World Cup in 2003, was full of praise for the New Zealanders. "I think in '05 the Lions also probably faced one of the best teams we'd ever seen in the All Blacks in difficult circumstances," he said. "They played some of the best rugby I had ever seen - if not the best." Despite the clamour for Johnson's installation in a senior management/coaching role with England and/or the Lions, the man himself reckons his lack of experience rules him out of contention. Prominent figures such as Sir Clive Woodward and Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler have demanded Johnson's elevation to the England set-up. England's director of elite rugby Rob Andrew is conducting his review into the World Cup, with the future of head coach Brian Ashton still uncertain. Johnson is not under consideration in a coaching capacity but could fill the role of team manager if Andrew decided to create the position. Installing such an inspiring figure to the national set-up would be universally welcomed. But the 37-year-old, currently a popular figure on the corporate circuit, insists he does not possess the credentials for the role. "If I ever got involved as manager of England then I'd want to do it with a bit of experience behind me," he said. "This is not the right time for me. If Rob were to call me now then I'd tell him the same thing. "There's a perception that I'll turn up and everything will be all right. "When things are going badly for England the coaches will not tell the players anything different to what I'd tell them. "People are assuming I could walk back in - but it doesn't work like that. "There's nothing to say that, because you've played at the top level you'll make a good coach or manager. "I would never be arrogant enough to presume I could be a national team coach or manager without any experience." Johnson indicated a coaching position with England would be out of the question until he had gained some hands-on experience at a lower level. "It's an easy perception that I should get involved after everything that I achieved in 2003, and the rest of it," he said. "But if I wanted to get involved in coaching I wouldn't go straight in at international level. I'd try and get some coaching experience first. "It's one thing to have knowledge and experience, but the art of coaching is different. I have no coaching experience." If Johnson does ever go into coaching he will do it because he is properly committed to the job. "You've got to have the passion to want to get involved, there's no point doing it half-heartedly," he said. "When I get that feeling I'll look at getting involved. "Coaching is a difficult job. I got involved in the game to play, and that's what I enjoyed doing. "I didn't get involved with the long-term view of being a coach at any stage." Andrew is expected to announce the findings of his review next month when he will detail the changes to the back-room staff, if any. Ashton looks set to continue for the Six Nations, with Andrew himself possibly taking a more prominent role to relieve some of the pressure on his coach. Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards continues to be touted as a possible addition to the management team, but South Africa boss Jake White has faded from contention. Whoever Andrew opts for, Johnson declared it is crucial the former England fly-half gets it right as the ageing national side enters a transitional phase. "It's a very important time right now, and England must make the correct choice," he warned. "The guy in charge must manage the transition of the team. "A lot of the guys who played in the final will not be around in 18 months' time. "England must stay successful, keep the team confident and manage the young guys coming in - because there's talent there. "It's difficult for a talented youngster to come into a team that's unsuccessful. "It's much easier if there's a little bit of experience around you, a bit of know how and a winning team."
