Mark Johnson passes first test - page 2

12-11-2008 10:10

He was sure-footed in the post-match news conference and although the win undoubtedly helped, his confident, no nonsense approach bodes well for the harder days to come.

Having been asked his first question he embarked on a comprehensive answer which encompassed England's tentative start, the need to bed in the new combinations, praise for the debutants and a considered analysis of why the hosts had to raise the tempo in the second half, which left just a few technicalities to mull over.

The worst part of the game came near the end of the first half, as England forwards plodded into position to be fed the ball by Care as they tried, in vain, to generate some front-foot ball for the backs.

It looked horribly reminiscent of many leaden-footed displays over the past few years, but the problem was sorted at the interval and Johnson was refreshingly honest when asked about it afterwards.