So Martin Johnson has resigned today from his post as England team manager and I, for one, am sorry to see him go.
Of course he had his weaknesses. He took up his role in 2008 as a legendary figure in the game, but with no coaching experience and against the advice of some of his closest advisors. He did it because it was a role he could not refuse but in the aftermath of a disastrous world cup campaign his position became untenable.
How did it come to this? His England team, after all, had just won a first 6 Nations title since 2003 but their limitations were exposed in New Zealand where a quarter-final defeat by France left them way short of self-proclaimed expectation. There is little doubt now that the off-field controversies played a massive part in England’s demise and, subsequently, Johnson’s.
I have known Johnno for many years and am a huge fan. I used to write his column in a national newspaper and have interviewed him on numerous occasions. He even used his influence to persuade Leicester to allow me to play for them one week, ten years ago. He is a good, good man who will be hurting like hell right now.
Since last month’s world cup denouement Johnson has kept his own counsel but, privately, has been beating himself up over what he sees as entirely his fault. Why? Because it was under his watch and he has a point. But the reality is that his real crime was to trust his players to behave.
They, and Rob Andrew, who will do well to survive this, have let Johnson down and have a direct influence in his unfortunate demise. The fact that the RFU have tried to blame Johnson for the fact that their sponsors are now up in arms is unfair and unjust.
Right now English rugby is in a mess. The status of Martin Johnson will not be mortally wounded by today’s news. He is, after all, the man who lifted the 2003 Rugby World Cup and for this alone he will never be forgotten. Today, though, a lot of people in the England team and connected to it, should take a long hard look in the mirror and be ashamed.
