Johnson sticks with struggling English backs

ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson described his selection decision for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup showdown with Scotland as the toughest of his 18-month tenure.

The “marathon” deliberations following England’s 20-16 defeat to Ireland resulted in two key decisions – to retain Delon Armitage at full-back ahead of Ben Foden and replace flanker Lewis Moody with Joe Worsley.

“It was probably the longest selection process since I have been involved and the toughest but that’s good. There is pressure on players to perform,” said Johnson.

Armitage knows that more than most. The London Irish full-back has been struggling for form all tournament and did not expect to be selected, even after proving he had recovered from a rib injury.

Foden replaced him off the bench against Ireland and made an immediate impact, enhancing his already powerful claims to be awarded a first Test start.

Johnson left the final decision until yesterday morning but eventually decided to stick by Armitage for England’s trip to Murrayfield and use Foden as an impact player off the bench.

But Armitage knows his form must improve against Scotland or the full-back decision for England’s final RBS 6 Nations game against France will be much easier for Johnson.

Armitage said: “It was a massive relief to be named in the team. I kind of expected not to be in it.

“I haven’t had the best Six Nations and after going off injured Ben came on and did a good job off the bench.

“For me to get another shot to try and get back to the form I showed last year is a good opportunity.

Johnson, who spent his whole playing career at Leicester, laughed off the tongue-in-cheek suggestion that Moody was dropped as punishment because he is leaving Welford Road for Bath next season.

With his serious face on, Johnson insisted Moody had not been dropped at all – rather that Worsley had been preferred at openside for a physical showdown with the Scottish back row. Worsley is widely considered to be the best defender in the England set-up, he is a powerful ball-carrier and Johnson believes the Wasps veteran is the perfect fit to tackle the Scots.

“We had this conversation last year when we picked Joe at seven but he was probably our best player,” said Johnson.

Meanwhile Andy Robinson insisted inside knowledge alone would not be enough for Scotland to beat his native England.

This weekend sees Robinson pit his wits against the country of his birth – and the team he both played for and coached – for the first time.

The 45-year-old, sacked by England in 2006 after winning just nine of his 22 games in charge, will be reunited with several of his former charges on Saturday.

But while he has no qualms about imparting the knowledge he has of their strengths and weaknesses to his adopted nation, he warned it is up to his own players to exploit any advantage that might bring.

“I can communicate about the (England) players but it’s still about going out there and delivering,” Robinson said.

“England have a very good forward pack, they’re very good at attacking through Danny Care.

“They have got pace, so they are a dangerous team.

“But if you get in their faces and you stop them from playing, you ask real questions of them,” he said.