Martin Johnson to call on class of 2003

Gary Fitzgerald 20/04/2008

Martin Johnson will tap into the knowledge and wisdom of the old boys of 2003 to help him be a successful England team manager.

Big Johnno also intends to lean on the shoulders of former boss Sir Clive Woodward if things don't go to plan at the start of his reign.

Indeed, the only England captain to lift the Webb Ellis Trophy rang World Cupwinning coach Woodward to ask him if he was making the right decision in taking over the hot-seat.

Johnno admits there is now "tremendous pressure" on him to succeed straight away having taken over from Brian Ashton.

While Ashton contemplates whether or not to accept the RFU's offer of demotion to the post of Academy Director or find a new club, Johnson is already planning to conquer the rugby globe once more in his first rugby job since quitting as a player.

He feels strongly that the likes of Jason Leonard, Richard Hill, Neil Back, Mike Catt, Matt Dawson, Jason Robinson and Lawrence Dallaglio could lend a hand in assisting his ambition to win the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

Johnno said: "I won't tap into them merely because they are the boys from 2003 who won the World Cup. I will do it because they have so much to offer.

"I feel my generation have been professional players for a very long time and are still around the game in some shape or form. Their profession is still rugby and I'm sure a lot of those guys will be involved, if not straight away but somewhere down the line.

"I expect I will bump into them sooner rather than later, and have a good chat to see what they think. You're talking about guys who have a huge amount of experience and you don't want to lose them from the game. I'm sure I'll get a mixed response with some saying, 'Sorry, not for me right now but in the future' or 'Yes', 'No' or whatever. But there is a huge amount of knowledge and talent out there which you want to make use of."

Johnson looks set to use the same meticulous and money-no-option blueprint to try to win the World Cup which was the hallmark of Woodward's spell in charge.

Johnno, who will be absent from England's summer tour to New Zealand due to wife Kay expecting a baby then, added: "I spoke to Clive Woodward when I retired and it was a natural thing to ring him again about this situation.

We had a good conversation as we always do and you're bound to get some advice along the way.

"One of Clive's strengths was that he wasn't afraid to go outside his own sport to get new ideas. He was always looking to add this or that to change things.

And you knew as players that it was never ever going to be the same each time.

"In any sport if you stay still for a while you end up going backwards.

"I also spoke to a lot of people who had various views on it. There were a few who advised a little caution because of the nature of the job I was taking on.

"It's a big challenge and a big job to get as my first back in rugby. They don't come any bigger.

"But I'm 38 years old and big enough to make my own decisions. And I didn't want to be just sitting there living on what I had or what went on a few years ago.

"I have no fears about putting my reputation on the line. I did it as a player and I'm happy to do it as England team manager.

That goes with the job and the pressure you're under to produce results and performances."

JOHNSON RULES OUT LIONS ROLE
Martin Johnson has ruled himself out of travelling with the British and Irish Lions to South Africa next year.

The new England boss was in the running to be part of the Lions party, but hr believes he would not be able to combine the two jobs having just taken up the Twickenham hot-seat.

He said: "I don't expect to be involved. I think there is more than enough on my plate now with England. I'm here as team manager and not coach. And the Lions already have a team manager in Gerald Davies."

Jonno, meanwhile, believes Danny Cipriani can continue to grow in stature under his reign.

Wasps youngster Cipriani elbowed Jonny Wilkinson out of the No10 jersey at the end of the Six Nations and Jonno says: "Danny, as we have seen recently, is an exciting and outstanding talent.

It's all good for England if he continues to progress the way he has in recent times."