Champs hand England rugby lesson
22 Nov 2008
A dejected Martin Johnson said his England squad can learn from this heavy defeat and pick themselves up ahead of the New Zealand clash next weekend.
Johnson lamented the countless opportunities spurned by his charges. England dominated possession and had a one-man advantage for 20 of the 80 minutes played at Twickenham. They had a clear overlap on several occasions, but were outdone by the desperate Springbok defence and their own poor passing.
“We started well and we created plenty of opportunities, but we just didn’t take our chances,” said Johnson. “To lose like that at home is very disappointing.
“They gave us a lesson in that game and the challenge for us now is to stand up and be counted. The character of this team, our strongest team, will be shown in how they pick themselves up for New Zealand – the No 1 team in the world.”
Johnson said there was never any question of the England effort and rather pointed to the inexperience of his charges being a factor in the 42-6 defeat. Although England did some good things, Johnson believes the Boks deserved the win.
“We could have scored more tries and then the scoreline may have been closer. But that’s what would have been, and the final scoreline was what it was.
“The Boks defended well. I think Danny Care would have scored a couple of tries if he was playing against a Premiership side today. They also kickied better than us; it’s something we have to work on.
“42-6 does reflect the game, it’s the score.”
England’s new manager accepted much of responsibility for this loss. Johnson does however have great hopes for this team and shouldn’t make wholesale changes for next week’s Test against the All Blacks.
“There’s no point bringing in new guys, because we know this is our best team. We know it’s a process [in rebuilding this team], but it’s a challenge because we want to be as good as we can as quick as we can.”
21 Comments
22 Nov 2008, 20:52 pm
Bloody right, apparently John Smit offered the Poms a crumb of comfort and said they would improve ha ha ha!
22 Nov 2008, 20:58 pm
Well well well Big Hit , my oh my, and here you were talking up England’s chances in the end of year tour, haha how does that egg feel that you have all over your face ??
22 Nov 2008, 21:00 pm
Headline in The (UK) Times reads CLUELESS ENGLAND THRASHED BY BOKS
22 Nov 2008, 21:12 pm
#2 poppa69:
Yep i remember the Big Hit quote.
“We shall see in the EOYT or AIs”
And what have we seen so far?
22 Nov 2008, 21:15 pm
Yes I remember BH asking my prediction and i said boks by more than 10
he came back and said poms by 5
But he is a loyal england supporter
22 Nov 2008, 21:34 pm
Wow guys, Big Hit wa very gracious after the game, more gracious than any of us have ever been. What did you expect him to say? Boks are gonna kill us?
We always back the Boks to win no matter what. It’s nice but it’s just as arrogant.
Well done Springboks and I hope England get better. It’s not good for the game to have a weak England side.
22 Nov 2008, 21:36 pm
#6 Bagel:
yeah like us he is a loyal supporter and will always back his team
he does take a lot of stick here and still comes back in to chat
22 Nov 2008, 21:45 pm
#7 CoachPete: Agree 100%,some of our so called supporters could take a leak out of BH,s book…
22 Nov 2008, 21:47 pm
#8 bok4eva: Exactly
22 Nov 2008, 22:03 pm
#8 bok4eva:
I think you mean a “leaf”
Taking a leak is something entirely different.
22 Nov 2008, 22:05 pm
#10 jonnow: Very different!
22 Nov 2008, 22:42 pm
#8 bok4eva:
To a point.But he goes a bit to far over the top.He has nothing good to say about the ABs,so from a kiwi point of view he gets what he deserves.
He always backs his team no matter what like i do, but i dont go out on a limb to bad mouth players and coaches like Big Hit does.You guys dont notice cos its all aimed at anything NZ.
22 Nov 2008, 23:35 pm
#12 Hurricane: Secretly Big *** is a huge All Blacks fan – if you notice he is always on the AB’s thread – and hardly ever on an england thread. A massive AB’s fan for sure.
22 Nov 2008, 23:43 pm
How was that oke interviewing johnson after the game? I’m suprised johnson didn’t hit him. Flippin poor journalism. I mean I don’t give a toss about how the english feel, but sheesh, even i felt uncomfortable during that interview
23 Nov 2008, 00:22 am
#14 Kietzphat:
Martin Johnson held his nerve like a true warrior in that interview with Sky TV. Calm under pressure.
But his England team will get mowed down against NZ next week.
Phil Vickery must pack it in now. Time has moved on.
No brains in the backs. Just limp and jaded wannabees.
I wouldn’t have Cipriati in the Griffons side.
23 Nov 2008, 00:32 am
Big Hit will have to be very gracious in defeat again next week because the All Blacks will spank England horribly.
23 Nov 2008, 00:46 am
I don’t know why of all the names Martin Johnson brings up, he chooses to mention Danny Care. He has been useless over the last 3 weeks for England, with poor service to his backline and Harry Ellis should start against NZ.
23 Nov 2008, 01:12 am
#12 Hurricane: Thats cos there is nothing good to say about the all blacks
23 Nov 2008, 09:38 am
Harsh interview on TV, Marty didn’t do so well, must be harsh being in the land of the whiney poms. You know how they love to bash their own.
Ouch
24 Nov 2008, 00:27 am
#18 bokfan1:
Yeah seems that way with jealous people.
24 Nov 2008, 13:58 pm
#20 Hurricane: Wooooah! That must’ve worked well on the playground when you were a kid?
“Im rubber, you’re glue…”
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