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| Martin Johnson © Reuters Images |
Even Martin Johnson acknowledges that any progress he is making
with England may not be immediately obvious to those sitting in the
Twickenham stands or watching on television.
In the wake of last week's uninspiring 16-9 win over Argentina,
critics, including some of Johnson's former teammates, questioned
whether the former lock was capable of forging a team imaginative
enough to compete with the world's best.
And most will be no wiser after Saturday's 19-6 loss to New
Zealand.
"It may not have been reflected in what we did on the field, and
people may disagree with that based on what they've seen," said
Johnson, who is now team manager. "But as a group of players who
came together a few weeks ago with the injuries we had, I think
they have been fantastic.
"Today it's mixed feelings because we stuck at it and played
pretty well at times, but there were chances to put the All Blacks
under pressure that we just didn't take."
Defeat to New Zealand meant England scored just one try in three
matches this month and showed again the one-time world champion's
difficulty in adapting to rugby union's changing styles.
The team Johnson led to the 2003 World Cup title as on-field
captain was based upon the control of the big forwards, pace in the
back three and the metronomic kicking of Jonny Wilkinson. But as
team manager, Johnson is struggling to piece together a side to
contend with the more fluid teams that have since succeeded
England.
But with nine weeks to go before the start of the Six Nations
tournament, Johnson can point to several factors in favor of his
players.
Most of his lineup against Australia, Argentina and then New
Zealand would scarcely have thought of themselves as first-choice
picks but were forced into action because almost an entire team or
regular starters was out injured.
Those players, a mix of youngsters, veterans and
second-stringers, only lost one try to a New Zealand side
recognized as the most dangerous in the world game and compiled a
better record over three matches than their supposedly superior
counterparts a year ago.
England lost by a combined score of 102-26 a year ago in matches
to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. Although the World Cup
holders did not visit Twickenham this time around and were replaced
by the weaker Argentines, England only went down 46-31 in its three
November internationals.
Five more points scored and 56 fewer conceded represents some
progress.
"As a group, we came into the series with a lot of difficulties
that have been well documented," Johnson said. "It's been tough for
the guys who played in this series who didn't think they would in
October.
"If it's not visible on the field sometimes, off the field
they're a lot further down the line than they were last year. Their
effort has been tremendous."
England never threatened Australia after the 26th minute two
weeks ago and lost 18-9 before laboring to 9-9 with 10 minutes left
against the Pumas, rescued from the ignominy of a draw by a
70th-minute try by winger Matt Banahan.
On Saturday, England mostly matched the visitors and trailed by
just three points until All Blacks scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan touched
down in the 57th minute.
It rarely threatened an upset victory and was still short of
inspiration in midfield but put together more enterprising rugby in
the first 20 minutes than it managed in the whole of its previous
two matches, kicking selectively rather than compulsively and
retaining the ball in contact.
New Zealand looked dangerous whenever it took the ball out wide
at pace but England persisted in its high-energy harrying and
crunching forward play despite visibly tiring, and only a
last-ditch tackle by Carter stopped Tom Croft from scoring a try
for England with seven minutes left.
The return from injury of players including Toby Flood, Delon
Armitage and Riki Flutey should make England more dangerous and
unpredictable going forward by the time of the 2011 World Cup, but
Johnson may need to call upon Mathew Tait, who was given just eight
minutes in three matches, and Ben Foden to lift his team to another
level.
"There's some guys who will be fit in December who have a chance
to come in," Johnson said. "Ultimately, we need to decide how we
want to play and pick accordingly. Some guys will be unlucky.
"There's going to be some tough calls. You can't give guys the
experience they've had this autumn - good and bad."
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