England World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson has said the British and Irish Lions won’t need him on their forthcoming tour of New Zealand.
The 34-year-old Leicester lock — a veteran of three Lions trips and the only man to captain them on two separate tours — retired from international rugby union early last year just months after leading England to the 2003 World Cup.
But having decided to have a final season with Leicester, there was speculation that Johnson might go to New Zealand, where he made his Lions debut following a late call-up in 1993, especially as the coach is his old England boss, Sir Clive Woodward.
However, the 83-times-capped second row, a victorious Lions captain in South Africa in 1997 before tasting defeat in Australia four years ago, ended the debate last week.
His Twickenham testimonial match against a team led by All Black star Jonah Lomu was announced for June 4 — the same day as the Lions play their opening tour fixture against Bay of Plenty in Roturua.
”I haven’t played Test rugby for over a year and it will be more like 18 months by the time of the Lions’ first game, so if they need me to go and play then they are in trouble anyway,” Johnson told a Twickenham news conference on Monday.
He added: ”You wouldn’t rule anyone out if someone has a good Six Nations.”
But asked about the Lions prospects of available but England-retired pair Lawrence Dallaglio and his Leicester teammate Neil Back, Johnson commented: ”Backy would never rule himself out, would he? If you asked him in 20 years, he’d still be available. That’s just the way he is.
”Lawrence is a good few years younger than me and he’d be a good man to have in a squad situation.”
Johnson, who played for New Zealand Under-21s during a brief stay in the country as a school-leaver, said the Lions face a daunting trip.
”When we went in 1993, we thought we had a lot of supporters. But now it will be five times as many. It’s a rugby-mad country and it’s going to be a pressure-cooker place to be.
”It’s about winning two out of three Tests. If you can do that, you are up there with the greats. Who has won a full, proper series in New Zealand — South Africa, the 1971 Lions. It’s pretty, blooming hard.
”We had a chance to win in 1993 — we were 10-0 up in the second Test and got beat. I was just making my way in international rugby. You don’t realise what’s slipped by until it’s gone.”
However, Johnson, who said he would have liked to play a club season in Europe, insisted he has no lingering Lions regrets.
”I’d be a bit greedy if I put that on my tombstone. ‘Bugger, I only went as a replacement [for England’s Wade Dooley], two Tests and won one in Wellington. Bloody hell.’
”I’ve been very fortunate to play at a great club and play in a great international team. There were plenty of players who weren’t as lucky I was.”
Looking at injury-hit England’s chances in the Six Nations, which starts next month, Johnson said: ”It’s difficult. But injuries gives someone else a chance to play.
”In the centres, there are a lot of guys who are down. But Jamie Noon and Ollie Smith have been some of the best centres in the Premiership and if they played fantastically well, people will be saying they should have been in a year ago.
”But they’ve got a very difficult start. Wales away, France at home and Ireland away. It’s a tough start, but I am sure they wouldn’t want it any other way.” — Sapa-AFP