Tim Stimpson has told skysports.com that Martin Johnson is the perfect person to get the best out of England.
Former Leicester man backing another old Tiger to shine
Former England full-back Tim Stimpson has told
skysports.com that Martin Johnson is the pefect person to get the best out of the national team - starting with the upcoming autumn internationals.
Tri-nations trio Australia, New Zealand and South Africa all descend on Twickenham in November as Johnson prepares for a testing start to his managerial career.
And Stimpson, a winner of four domestic league titles under the captaincy of the former lock at Leicester, insists he had no doubt his former team-mate would go on to become the England manager.
"He is the right man for the job, I always got the impression if he wanted it he could have it," Stimpson told
skysports.com.
"I know how excited he is about the challenge ahead and I know how frustrated he is - he just wants to get the games underway and go from there.
Main focus
"He wants to win every game, but realistically his main focus will be to be competitive and play well for the full 80 minutes.
"So many games recently we have only played well for 50-60 minutes and it is important that they perform for the full 80 in these fixtures."
Johnson kicks-off his tenure with a Test against the Pacific Islanders on November 8, before fixtures against Australia (November 15), South Africa (November 22) and New Zealand (November 29).
And, in what is somewhat of a transitional period for England, Stimpson admits he is looking forward to seeing how Johnson's new-look squad will perform against the world's best.
"Martin has always said, don't judge us until after the autumn internationals," he said.
"They are coming up against the best in the world, yet at the same time all the sides will be somewhat of an unknown quantity as we don't know if they will bring their first teams over.
"At the same time, England have a new squad and it will be a massive challenge.
"Martin has got the right players together and I know from personal experience how good he is at getting these guys to bond and getting the best out of players."
Stimpson, who also played for Newcastle and Perpignan, was the top points-scorer when the British and Irish Lions last won in South Africa in 1997.
With players vying for places in Ian McGeechan's squad for the return trip in 2009, the pressure is on everyone in the autumn Tests.
"You try to be 100 percent motivated every time you play, but the extra determination to win a Lions place and the excitement of it all adds to the pressure you put on yourself," Stimpson added.
Reliable
"As a professional sportsman you are always pushing the barriers and your goal is ultimately to play with, and against the best players in the world.
"Playing for the Lions and representing all four nations gains you a huge amount of respect from your peers.
"You have to be really well-disciplined when you go away on tour with the Lions and play against the best in the world. As a player it is the ultimate challenge."
Commenting on the current England full-back candidates for the autumn internationals, Stimpson said: "Josh Lewsey is the most-improved player in world rugby in terms of the way he was when he started out.
"He probably deserves his place and has been a reliable performer for England.
"Mathew Tait also has a claim for a place. He has more pace and he offers something a little bit different."
Stimpson enjoyed an extremely successful six-year career at Welford Road - becoming the first English Premiership player to kick over 1000 points and helping Tigers to back-to-back Heineken Cups.
And, after casting a watchful eye over all of his former club's fixtures so far this season, Stimpson believes even more silverware will be on its way to Leicester sooner rather than later.
"Leicester are in a fantastic place both mentally and physically, I have been to every game this season and I'm very impressed with what is going on," he said.
"Considering the major changes, they started steady and methodically grinding out results, but now they have gained in confidence and are exciting to watch.
"They have set their stall out to win all three competitions and I believe they can."
Tim Stimpson is an ambassador for the Special Olympics GB National Summer Games which takes place in Leicester between 25th-31st July 2009. For further information on next years Games log on to www.sol2009.com
