Rugby Union: Martin Johnson backs England

Sep 7 2007 by Ian Laybourn, Liverpool Daily Post

MARTIN JOHNSON has backed England as World Cup semi-final material if the Webb Ellis Trophy holders “reach their full potential”.

England start the 2007 tournament from a lowly world ranking of seventh, and they have already lost Jonny Wilkinson through injury for their Pool A opener against the USA in Lens tomorrow.

But victorious 2003 World Cup skipper Johnson believes England can make an impact in France during the next six weeks, despite the form guide suggesting otherwise.

Johnson said: “It has been a difficult time over the past two or three years for England.

“But we need to have an intensity, starting against the USA on Saturday, and reach a level of execution and accuracy.

“Our standards must be very high.

“If we reach our full potential, then we could arrive at the semi-finals because we can beat any team when we have our game full-on.

“Regarding Jonny’s injury, these things happen in sport, unfortunately.

“We wish it hadn’t happened, but when it does it is someone else’s turn to step up, and in this case it is Olly Barkley. I believe he will step up to the mark.

“I hope Jonny is fit for South Africa, but if he is not, then we just have to get on with it.

“It becomes someone else’s responsibility to fill that role, and Barkley will be ready to play against South Africa if necessary.”

England are planning not to issue any further update on Wilkinson’s condition until next Tuesday.

He suffered an ankle ligament sprain during training in Versailles threedays ago, although expert medical opinion from outside the England camp suggests he could face a six week lay-off.

England will do everything possible to try and get Wilkinson back to full fitness for the game with South Africa next week – a probable Pool A decider.

However, it looks increasingly likely that head coach Brian Ashton could find himself summoning a replacement such as Toby Flood or Charlie Hodgson, who are both on stand-by.

The England squad headed to Lens yesterday, where Johnson will be looking for an immediate impression to be left by exciting newcomer Tom Rees.

Wasps flanker Rees is the only natural number seven in Ashton’s squad, and he has a huge role to play, despite his relative inexperience at Test level.

“Despite his inexperience at this level, I still believe he has what it takes to come through the World Cup as a world-class openside flanker,” said Johnson, one of VISA’s five World Cup legends paraded in Paris yesterday. But Johnson is concerned at England’s talent drain drying up in terms of young players making a mark at the top level.

He added: “Our team in 2003 was, as the Australians kept telling us, old, and a lot of us retired soon after the tournament.

“They thought they had leaders to take their places, but Jonny missed nearly three years with England, and the likes of Mike Tindall and Phil Vickery were out for big chunks of that period, also due to injuries.

“Add to that the fact some of the boys like Ben Kay and Steve Thompson lost a bit of form, and it becomes easier to understand, but that’s the short version!

“We also ploughed straight back into a club season seven days after the (2003) final, followed by a full Six Nations, another summer tour, then a long domestic season and the 2005 Lions tour.

“There are far too many games, which is something that has to be addressed back home.

“I am concerned with the lack of young guys coming through and establishing themselves during the past four years.

“Tom Rees is one player who has, but there are a handful more who are not here. It is just not enough in that period, and we have to address that.”

As for England’s crunch clash against South Africa, Johnson added: “If we can get ahead of South Africa, the pressure will build on them, and I see no reason why we cannot win that one.”

And World Cup winner Ben Cohen insists England have a genuine chance of retaining the Webb Ellis trophy – with or without Wilkinson – and will relish their underdogs tag. Cohen believes England are ready to silence their many vocal detractors.

“You can’t get away from the fact they’ve played three and only won one. But people are underestimating England a little bit,” Cohen said.

“We’ll do well in the World Cup and we always like the fact we’re underdogs. The pressure is off you and on the other side.

“They will be better than people think.”

Cohen, a fixture in Sir Clive Woodward’s all-conquering XV of 2003, opted out of this year’s finals to be with his pregnant wife.

But the wing – who is also currently locked in dispute with club side Northampton following his walkout in protest at being overlooked for the captaincy – insists he has no regrets about staying away.

“It was an easy choice for me, I had it taken out of my hands because my wife was pregnant with twins,” Cohen said.

“I’m a big family man and I wanted to be at home for the birth.”