ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA:IT HAS taken a while but Martin Johnson says he can finally sense something stirring within his own-brand England squad. Yesterday he came as close as he has ever done to conceding his side were effectively a rabble this time last year, as opposed to the more united bunch preparing for the forthcoming autumn series. The return of three World Cup-winning gunslingers, all intent on helping their former sheriff see off a tricky posse of autumn visitors, seems to have improved his mood significantly.
In naming a starting XV containing Jonny Wilkinson, as well as the fit-again Steve Thompson and Lewis Moody, Johnson certainly sounds far happier than he was last autumn. As well as dealing with umpteen fitness issues, he has been trying to foster certain core values within the squad, regardless of experience, age or position. Honesty, relentlessness and integrity are among them, as is collective trust. “Even though there have been changes, the squad has a better feel to it in terms of spirit than it did,” admitted the former England captain, sounding far more optimistic about what may lie ahead.
“It almost felt like a group of 30 players being thrown together last year. For guys to go and win Test matches, you have to have trust in each other. When you come together for the first time it’s not there but it developed in the Six Nations and in Argentina during the summer. It will get tested against Australia but if they can keep that trust in the heat of a game that’s what will win you matches.
“As a coaching group we’re also a bit further along now in terms of how we want to play. If you’re not better a year later than you were at the start you probably need to have a look at yourself.”
The acid test, of course, looms this weekend. An England dressing room will always feel a more secure place with Wilkinson inside it and there is similar reassurance to be gained from the restoration of Thompson and Moody, back in the saddle after an achingly long time in the wilderness.
Of equal relevance against the Wallabies at Twickenham, though, will be the contributions of relative newcomers such as David Wilson, Matt Banahan, Shane Geraghty, Courtney Lawes and Ayoola Erinle.
This time last year Lawes had started only a handful of games for Northampton. Suddenly he is on the verge of being a capped lock, much to Johnson’s pleasure.
“To be on an international bench at 20 in that position is exceptional. Someone sent me a text saying he’s a bit like I used to be, except more athletic, funnier and better looking.”
ENGLAND (v Australia, Twickenham, Sat, 2.30): U Monye (Harlequins); M Cueto (Sale Sharks), D Hipkiss (Leicester), S Geraghty (Northampton), M Banahan (Bath); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); T Payne (Wasps), S Thompson (Brive), D Wilson (Bath), L Deacon (Leicester), S Borthwick (Saracens, capt), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Leicester), J Crane (Leicester). Replacements: D Hartley (Northampton), D Bell (Bath), C Lawes (Northampton), J Haskell (Stade Francais), P Hodgson (London Irish), A Goode (Brive), A Erinle (Biarritz).
