Martin Johnson resigns as England team manager- where do England go from now?

Today Martin Johnson has announced his resignation from his role as England’s manager. His decision follows increasing pressure from the media due to England’s terrible performance at the World Cup in New Zealand where players misbehaved off the field and they did not succeed on the pitch.

Martin Johnson’s Management Record

England played 38 games under Johnson’s leadership and won 21, drew 1 match and lost 16; this leads to a winning percentage of 55.3%. This is a poor record for a top tier side. If you compare this record to Graham Henry’s statistics as the All Black manager it makes miserable reading; the All Blacks won 84.5% of their matches including the latest World Cup during Henry’s tenure. England never recaptured their form following a promising World Cup in 2007.

 Martin Johnson had an impressive playing career, but he was put into the top job without any prior experience of management

Who should replace Johnson?

Currently the majority of England rugby fans are hoping that Graham Henry can be tempted to move to London to become England’s manager. However, this would take a major investment of capital to tempt Henry from the southern hemisphere. Other coaches who have been linked to the role include Nick Mallett, the former Italian coach and Jim Mallinder who currently is the head coach at Northampton. Mallet has had a distinguished career in management with roles at Stade Français, and the International stage with South Africa and Italy. Mallet’s highlights include the 17 game winning-streak that he led the Springboks to in 1997-8 , the two domestic titles that he led Stade Français to in 2003 and 2004 and Italy’s 22-21 win over France in last season’s Six Nations. Mallinder has turned Northampton Saints from a side that was relegated into a championship competing side; the Saints have finished as runners up in the Heineken Cup, won the LV=Cup and they made the play-offs last season.

Jake White has also been linked to the role, White helped make South Africa World Champions in 2007. He is currently with the Brumbies in Australia but he would be another hugely popular addition to the national team.

 Personally if Graham Henry is not given the role I would like to see Nick Mallett given the job as England’s team manager. Mallett has fantastic coaching experience and he would immediately make an impact. Mallinder seems to be working well at Northampton and it would be detrimental to the Saints if he left.

Who should line-up against Scotland in England’s opening match of the 2012 Six Nations?

1.    Nick Wood (Gloucester)

2.    Dylan Hartley (Northampton)

3.    Dan Cole (Leicester)

4.    Courtney Lawes (Northampton)

5.    Louis Deacon (Leicester)

6.    Tom Croft (Captain, Leicester)

7.    Tom Wood (Northampton)

8.    Thomas Waldrom (Leicester)

9.    Joe Simpson (Wasps)

10. Toby Flood (Leicester)

11. Charlie Sharples (Gloucester)

12. Owen Farrell (Saracens)

13. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester)

14. Chris Ashton (Northampton)

15. Ben Foden (Northampton)

Have you got any thoughts or comments? Who do you think should be England’s new manager? Who should start for England in the Six Nations this season? Message below or post/follow me on twitter @tommyd91.