Neal Collins RUGBY
South Africans will probably be recoiling at the thought of Martin Johnson leading another group of tourists to the Rainbow Nation this month. Last time the huge Leicester lock captained a touring side against the Boks, he led the Lions to a shock victory over the then world champions in 1997.
But don’t expect the same this time. Johnson may not the best leader of England. And he will arrive in South Africa with a double half-back crisis that will prove difficult to overcome. Jonners, named as England’s captain for the five-match tour of South Africa from June 13 to 28, says: “It will be tough. We need to match them in courage and passion. South Africa are a very physical side.
“I wasn’t expecting the captaincy, I just wanted to get on the tour, get back in the Test team and start playing for England again. All I want to do now is get out there and get on with it. It’s great to be back.”
But there are those in and around the England camp who aren’t too sure about the return of captain Johnson.
It was under the more humane and humorous hand of Matt Dawson that England really began to sparkle during the Six Nations earlier this year. The feeling was that the absence of MJ’s dour visage helped the team, and encouraged a more expansive approach.
Of course Dawson’s style of leadership might also be blamed for the horror defeat against Scotland in the last game at Murrayfield, which took a lot of the edge off that Six Nations triumph. And it can’t be denied that Johnson has led Leicester to two successive Premier championships domestically.
But I’d argue that England in South Africa will miss Dawson – both as a leader and a think-in-a-split-second scrumhalf – far more than they would have missed Johnson, famed for his short temper and unsmiling attitude.
It was Johnson alone who failed to raise a smile when a Jeremy Guscott drop goal clinched the Lions series against the shocked Boks at Kings Park that night in 1997. And under Johnson’s leadership, last year’s World Cup on home soil amounted to a disaster – although we could also blame South African Jannie de Beer, who drop-kicked England out of the championship at the quarterfinal stage.
A drop of De Beer did England no good at all that day at Twickers. Mind you, when you’re playing in Pretoria and Bloemfontein rather than Durban and Cape Town, perhaps the no-nonsense, grim-faced Johnson approach is what England require for this tour.
I’m not talking about altitude or atmosphere here. I’ve got to be honest, I normally jump at the chance of a South African tour, be it rugby, cricket, croquet or tiddlywinks. But not this one. I’d rather stay and watch the cricket against the West Indies. In fact, I’d rather watch cricket against the Martians.
It’s a tour that starts in unfashionable Potchefstroom, and then goes rapidly downhill from there. England’s 40-strong group, which includes 11 uncapped novices, starts off against North-West Districts in Potch on June 13, then goes to Pretoria, Kimberley, Bloemfontein and Brakpan. It’s hardly the Garden Route is it?
But back to the rugby: on the positive side, scrumhalf Kyran Bracken, talented winger Dan Luger and Lions fullback Tim Stimpson are all on the comeback trail after injury and loss of form, while Clive Woodward can also call on all three of the men widely considered to be the best loose trio in the world: Neil Back, Lawrence Dallaglio (who should have been made captain for this tour) and Richard Hill.
The downside, apart from injuries to Dawson and Gomarsall at scrumhalf, is the continuing doubts over Jonny Wilkinson’s groin and the late withdrawal of Wasps flyhalf Alex King. We could yet see that old warhorse Mike Catt, once of Port Elizabeth, playing flyhalf. He’s been recalled nine times in five different positions (flyhalf, fullback, both wings and centre) so why the hell not?
The South Africans will keep a close eye on Wilkinson, the Newcastle flyhalf who spent so many years in the shadow of – and learning from – the excellent Rob Andrew, who will doubtless succeed Woodward as England coach if this tour ends in abject failure.
Wilkinson is carrying a groin injury that delayed the naming of the England side. He’s been declared fit, but just how fit remains to be seen. Woodward’s quotes, like his rugby until the first four games of the Six Nations, are predictable: “I’m happy with the squad. I feel sorry for those who cannot make it.
“We’ve got most of the Six Nations squad available, plus people like Martin Johnson, Kyran Bracken and Danny Grewcock returning. And I’ve kept one eye on the future with players like Ben Johnston and Leon Lloyd coming through.
“I was at Saracens when Matt suffered his dislocated shoulder – he did a great job in the Six Nations and I’m obviously disappointed not to have him on tour but he must rest and have treatment on the injury.”
So why go for Johnson as captain? Woodward smiles: “He had a superb tour with the British Lions over there three years ago. Although there were other candidates who could do the job, Martin has played some excellent rugby after coming back from injury.
“We need to get over that final Six Nations defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield – and this is just what we need, a trip to play against one of the world’s best teams. We can’t wait to get to South Africa.”
Saracens coach and former Springbok captain Francois Pienaar has a more realistic appraisal – especially with regard to Bracken, who looks likely to play a key role on the tour. Pienaar argues: “Both Bracken and Dan Luger need 10 games to get back to their best. Kyran needs to take care and remember that he is still coming back from a very long- term injury. He has worked extremely hard to get into this position, and I’m delighted for him.
“He will get better and better as the tour goes on, but it’s a worry that Kyran is suddenly first choice. He is a physical player, and doesn’t know the meaning of taking things easy.”