English rugby’s biggest problem is Martin Johnson

How do you solve a problem like Martin? Unfortunately the worrying signs - if you're an England supporter – suggest the man himself doesn't even acknowledge that there is a problem. Having seen his side scrape a turbid and tryless 15-15 draw with Scotland, England team manager Martin Johnson claimed afterwards they were improving: "There is progress and the core of a good team coming together."

Either Johnson hasn't been watching England lately or he's losing touch with reality. As his former international teammate Lawrence Dallaglio said after Saturday's dire draw: "England lacked dynamism and a spark. Scotland were there for the taking but England didn't get out of the blocks"

Johnson's tetchy response to Dallaglio's comments perhaps illustrate that beneath the bravado the pressure's beginning to hurt after nearly two years in the job: "You don't get any sort of time in this world because people are quick to criticise," he snapped. "Guys get paid to work in the media and say what they see."

Yet Johnson's rejoinder also reveals him to be either a hypocrite or getting forgetful in his old age. It was Johnson who, in November 2006, precipitated the removal of Andy Robinson as England coach by savaging his record in an interview with the Mail on Sunday.

Robinson had also been in the post for two years when Johnson called for his dismissal after a seven-match losing streak. "Let's be honest, we're not talking two defeats here, we're talking seven," Johnson told the newspaper. "I hate saying this because he and I went through a lot together [Robinson was England's assistant coach when they won the 2003 World Cup], but... if you ask me if replacing the head coach at this stage, with 10 months to go before the World Cup will make a difference, my honest answer is 'Yes'." Johnson went on to say that Robinson "has made some very poor selections and decisions before and during games...the buck has to stop with the head coach."

The buck did stop with Robinson (now the coach of Scotland) and a couple of weeks later he was out of a job. His successor was Brian Ashton, an avuncular figure with a shrewd rugby brain. He steered England to the final of the 2007 World Cup, only to be ousted six months later. The RFU believed England needed a more charismatic figure at the helm and chose the inexperienced Johnson as their man. He'd led England to glory in the 2003 World Cup, and it was believed his appointment would restore those golden days to English rugby.

That hasn't happened, and England are a worse side now than the one that went to Paris two years ago, under Brian Ashton, and beat France 24-13. The most damning indictment of Johnson's reign is a comparison of his record with that of his two predecessors:

• Robinson won nine of his 22 matches in charge, a win ratio of 40.9%, and scored 506 points at an average of 25.3 a game.

• Ashton won twelve of his 22 matches, a ratio of 54.5%, and scored 485 points at an average of 22.04 a game.

• Johnson has won 8 of his 18 matches, a ratio of 44.4%, and scored 360 points at an average of 20 a game.

Johnson's fate might well hinge on the outcome of events in Paris on Saturday night. With their 46-20 demolition of Italy yesterday, France are one game away from clinching the Grand Slam. All that stands in their way is Johnson's side, although France haven't beaten England in a competitive match since 2006. England's last two trips to the French capital have culminated in resounding successes (the 2008 Six Nations win and the stunning victory in the semi-final of the 2007 World Cup), but as Dallaglio said this current England side lack "spark" or, put it another way, self-belief. Given that the French are playing with confidence and elan a home victory is highly probable, and it could be a resounding one. Perhaps humiliation in Paris is the best way to solve a problem like Martin.

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