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ENGLAND TEAM PROFILE Car, train, bus or plane. Plan your trip to Twickenham free with www.transportdirect.info England will be looking to put an abysmal Autumn international series behind them and silence their critics in the 2009 Six Nations. The Red Rose’s campaign kicks off at home to Italy this year and few people (outside of Italy) expect anything other than a win for Martin Johnson’s men. The performance rather than just the result will be important, however. Italy are a physical team, and will cause problems, but if England do not win convincingly, and more importantly the team does not gel, their chances of getting a result in Cardiff the following weekend will be written off by an increasingly critical press, and Johnson will come under some heavy pressure even at this formative stage of his role as coach. And it doesn’t get any easier after that – as ever, an emotionally-charged Ireland will be fired up at Croke Park and France always pose a threat at Twickenham. However, if things go well then a final fixture at Scotland looks fairly appealing – it is unlikely a confident and settled England side would make the same mistake they did last year in Edinburgh when they relinquished the Calcutta Cup. The injury list is lengthy – usual suspect Jonny Wilkinson is unlikely to feature after he dislocated his knee in October. James Simpson-Daniel missed the Autumn internationals and faces an uphill struggle to have a chance to impress. A recurring metatarsal injury has kept David Strettle out since the initial damage sustained against Wales in 2007 after bursting onto the Six Nations scene the season before. Tom Rees is out for the first two fixtures and Luke Narraway, Lewis Moody and Nick Abendanon have also experienced interruptions to their international preparations. One man who has defied medical science is Danny Cipriani who miraculously recovered from a horrific � COACH MARTIN JOHNSON The RFU have taken a risk installing Johnson as manager of a team that have stuttered ever since he became the first Englishman to lift the World Cup in 2003. His playing credentials are undoubted, but as a manager he is unproven. Where he lacks managerial experience, his coaching team of Mike Ford, John Wells and Brian Smith do not. Ford was Ireland’s defensive co-ordinator for almost three years before he spent two years as Saracens head coach during which time he coached the 2005 midweek Lions team. Wells was Leicester’s forwards coach for six years before becoming their head coach for a year in 2004. After a sparkling playing career, Smith worked with the ACT Brumbies before sterling contributions at Bath and London Irish led them both to success. In accepting the role, Johnson confirmed his belief that he has potential as a tactician. His character and demeanor are perfect for the job but it will take more than passion, determination and leadership to emulate Sir Clive Woodward. Left New Zealand-born Rikki Flutey has been given the chance to make the No.12 shirt his own CLASSIC SPORTS SERIES / 99 |