Andrew - We've closed the gap

Johnson defends conservative selection policy

Last updated: 27th November 2009  

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England director of rugby Rob Andrew insists Martin Johnson's side have closed the gap on the southern hemisphere nations.

England failed to score a try in struggling to defeats by Australia and New Zealand at Twickenham this month, but Andrew is adamant progress is being made.

He told Sky Sports News: "We have made a long-term commitment to Martin developing a squad of players through to the 2011 World Cup.

"We have closed the gap on the southern hemisphere teams. There was a big gap to close this time last year and we have closed it. We have now got to work out how we go past them."

England manager Johnson also defended his decision to select a largely tried-and-trusted line-up rather than look to blood a host of new talent.

He said: "This time last year we had a tough autumn, we backed some guys and they produced in the Six Nations and came through better for it.

"You have got to make your call and if I felt that is the right call, I'd make it.

"I think in some ways it would be the easier thing to do, you'd be pandering to the critics but it wouldn't be right."

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Comments (17)

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Phil Loe says...

I realy realy do wonder which games Rob Andrew has been watching to pass such a stupid comment as we are closing on the SH. The only thing we are closing the SH on is 7,s so come the Olympics we might have a chance of gold. Andrew should have done the sensible thing a long time ago and retired or resigned or even better been sacked for being incomptetent or is the lure of the money to great for him. Is it a case of tell the people often enough and for long enough then they might just might start to believe what you are saying

Posted 13:44 14th December 2009

John Gresty says...

Who have they closed the gap on, Old Aldwynians? It seems to me that these people inhabit a different world. I would not be prepared to pay for the kind of rubbish England are currently serving up!

Posted 18:09 7th December 2009

Will C says...

I said it at the time and ill say it again, Clive woodward put English rugby back 10 years with his negative squad selection. Unfortunately again i think too much dependence is being put on Johnny Wilkinson. I just hope when the pressure is on, that Johnson doesnt start picking more non-english players for the english team, as that will be the start of the end of the English game. 90% of the current squad do not know what it is like to be on a preforming team and the pressure is telling. As an Irish man, to me a Grand Slam win, is a bit empty without the presence of a good/great english team.

Posted 08:26 27th November 2009

Jezza Jezza says...

Oh my god if both the coach and his boss think that England have improved the national team is in a whole heap of trouble....development of players...well did not see any during these matches all I saw was the dreadful treatment of young talented palyers who will now be very negative about their international future ( whatever they say in public) and when and if (a big if because Johnno does not have the bottle as he is toatally afraid of losing) they paly fo england again they will be very hampered by the negative coaching...just read that the kiwis were amazed that Strettle was not even in the squad for all 3 matches as they consider him to be the best winger in England...Johnno listen to the people that watch rugby day in day out and see the players and pick a team for the future...Foden Tait Strettle Laws, but his first big decision is to get rid of Borthwick....said it before hope we have dreadful 6n, Johnno et al are sacked and Ian Mcg brought in with his coaches and then hopefully we might have a chance to get to at least next world cup quarter finals otherwise we will be humiliated by say the USA...just please Johnno if you love rugby and the England team just GO GO

Posted 06:55 27th November 2009

Lyle Starritt says...

Absolute idiotic comment from Rob Andrew ... England are rooted in fourth place amongst the Northern nations ... good job Italy and Scotland are so poor. Lets be honest here England fans you only won in 2003 thro playing dull rugby and the fact that none of the Southern teams especially NZ turned up the gas.

Posted 06:22 27th November 2009

Derek N says...

Has Rob Andrew been drinking? As a South African living in London and having watched the english rugby team for the last 10 years, I regret to say that Martin Johnson was a shocking choice as manager and I believe his appointment was an emotional one for what he achieved as a player and the obvious passion he has for england. I cannot fault what he achieved as a player, he was one of the great's of the game, but as a manager he is incredibly conservative and seems to leave everything to hope. Picking players he played with in the hope that can recreate the glory of 03 is not practical. Most of these players are now out of their depth at international level now and that has been shown in the recent internationals. As a team, they dont appear to have a gameplan or play together. The forwards and backs appear to be playing two different games with a lack of creativity. I believe it is very naive of Rob Andrew to make these comments. English club rugby has lost a lot of really quality players recently and the standard has definately gone down this year in my opinion. Oz, NZ and S.A. have already had a very long hard season, whilst the english season is just starting. We dont hold these autumn internationals in high esteem, just end of year trips to blood new players, whilst the english seem to pin their hopes on these internationals and view it as an accurate guage of where they are. If it was me, I would try and tempt Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards away from Wales. They would view the english challenge as massive and probably be enough motivation to leave Wales at the amount of work there is to do.

Posted 04:29 27th November 2009

Craig Byers says...

To be totally truthful I think England lack direction from all levels. But on the field mostly from a skipper that shouldn't even be first choice at club level. All the players are living off 2003 a bit the footballers. There is talent out there but will never be used under this regime, the passion of Johnson seemed to leave England when he retired. He should've stayed there too, now Dallagio he has passion.

Posted 22:20 26th November 2009

Stuart Goodall says...

Its this English arrogance in the face of such overwhelming evidence to the contrary that provide the ammunition for us Celtic nations. Bring on the start of the 6 Nations. England and Johnson must be glad Italy and Scotland are part of the tournament....

Posted 20:52 26th November 2009

David Dickens says...

Good grief, I've heard it all now. I can only say that the man is deluded, absolutely deluded. I don't know what else to say, it's beyond reason and logic that he could say such things. If these incompetents, these dreamers are allowed to continue in post we will be drawn in to Dantes Inferno in rugby terms. I give up.

Posted 20:15 26th November 2009

Tom Mace says...

proof of how arrogant english rugby is.

Posted 18:46 26th November 2009

Mark Turner says...

Sadly you are deluding yourself Mr Andrew! Under Martin Johnson England have yet to win away from home, and even at HQ they get turned over by the big guns from the southern hemisphere.... and without so much as a single try to cheer the poor sould who parted with their hard earned cash. One can only imagine the effect on the confidence levels of young players such as Ben Foden and Mathew Tait, seeing guys playing out of position (and consequently not too surprisingly performing badly) in place of themselves. Couple that to conservative selection and a captain that seems unable to motivate his players or change the direction of play when things aren't going well, and it is hard to see any positives. Oh for some adventure, flair, and creativity! Sadly the lack of tries this autumn reflects the lack of these qualities in Martin Johnson's team selections. Until there is a shake-up of the current management structure (including Rob Andrew) it is hard to see any genuine progress being made in the near future.

Posted 18:33 26th November 2009

Anthony Blake says...

Totally myopic - the sooner Andrew, Johnson and his useless team are fired the better. it's always old pals act

Posted 18:17 26th November 2009

Dave B says...

Rob Andrew is right in saying the gap has closed. But not because England have improved (because they haven't), but because the SH teams have gone backwards in the last 12 months. Having said that Australia, NZ & SA will build on what they've got and in 12 months time the gap could be huge. For England to compete in next years Autumn Internationals, there needs to be a dramatic change in fortunes, selection, game plan etc. Very unlikely. I think only France have a realistic chance of competing with the SH nations in 12 months time as Wales & Ireland are, in my humble opinion at their max, Scotland & Italy will always be and I don't foresee the England turn round that is required. Hope I'm wrong.

Posted 17:57 26th November 2009

Ryan Pace says...

Your actually kidding!? Rob Andrew is the luckiest man on the earth to still have a job! employing Johnson without experience. He strikes deals with the clubs all the time, when the real reason we cannot succeed is our players are constantly on the verge of burnout, and young talet struggles to come through because of Journeyman overseas's players. Top qulaity players like Schalk Britz is great but others are just blocking the way for young English qualified players!

Posted 17:06 26th November 2009

Lenny Gill says...

I honestly think it believes it! It is true that the players raised their games to the point where the undeniable 'heart and soul' was able to hold the Southern Hemisphere's 2nd, 3rd and 4th sides from completely putting us to the sword at HQ and yes if we think back to the 'tour of hell' sticking with players bred a World Cup win in 2003 - but it is hardly the same. The players who are getting the most stick have been around for a while and can hold the Boks, the All Blacks and the Wallabies but can't ever hope to go past them man for man. *If there is a long term commitment to Jonno then why isn'tthere a long term commitment to making Lawes, Foden, Gerahghty, Cato, Youngs, Catt et al World Cup Winners in 2015 by letting them be blooded properly now, have a stab at the 2011 world cup, probably surviving on youthful exuberence and ambition ultimately turning them into World Beaters next time round. In what universe are esteemed incumbents at lock ever going to consistently out play Matfield and Botha? How do we imagine that Wilko - points machine that he is - is ever going to get Richie McCaw to buy that sidestep? This autumn cost many of us a lot of money to watch less exciting rugby than frankly National 1 serves up...

Posted 16:57 26th November 2009

Ryan Doyle says...

Is he out of his mind, we havent made progress what so ever, Johnson was the wrong choice he doesnt give youth a chance, picks a terrible captain and is all too stubborn to change his ways get rid of andrews johnson and whole coaching set up start from scratch. pathetic comments Andrews

Posted 16:30 26th November 2009

Greg Jones says...

"We have closed the gap on the southern hemisphere teams. There was a big gap to close this time last year and we have closed it. We have now got to work out how we go past them." Sure pal, 'just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water' will be the headlines if you meet any southern hemisphere team in the next world cup

Posted 16:17 26th November 2009
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