England legend Martin Johnson picks his 'all-time second-row'

Sunday, 13 September 2020 at 22:06

bySteven Smith

England's legendary World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson has selected his all-time second-row, and it's very impressive.

Johnson won 84 England caps and quit Test rugby at the start of 2004, just two months after leading Sir Clive Woodward's team to victory in Sydney.

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He also had huge success as captain of Leicester, guiding the Tigers to back to back Heineken Cup victories and several Premiership titles.

However, when selecting his dream second-row, he's looked to the players that he admired from long before the game turned professional.

“The 1990s was a great era for locks," said Johnson, who was picking his all-time dream team.

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"There were Robin Brooke and Ian Jones for New Zealand; Australia had John Eales; South Africa had Mark Andrews.

"I could have picked any of them but I’ve gone for some older players.

"Both Frik Du Preez and Colin Meads played in the 1960s but were very modern players. Meads was the greatest ever All Black; Frik was very quick and athletic. I wasn’t in their league.”

When the pair locked the scrum for a President’s Overseas XV against England in 1971 in a match to celebrate the centenary of the RFU, many thought they would never see a better pairing playing together.

Du Preez Test career ran from 1961 to 1971, and South Africa won a World Cup in 1995, so for him to be held in such esteem nearly 40 years after he had played his last International proves what affection the South African public have for the man

Meanwhile, Meads, who played 55 Tests within 133 games for the All Blacks between 1957 and 1971. The legend died of pancreatic cancer, aged 81 in 2017.

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LIST | 5 times Martin Johnson proved he was rugby’s greatest captain

1. The moment of World Cup victory

Australia 17-20 England, 22 November 2003

Johnson, like all great players, delivered when the stakes were at their highest and arguably saved his best England game for last.

His performance in the World Cup final was exceptional - dominant in the line-out and brutally effective in the tight exchanges.

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When England threatened to lose a game they should have won handsomely, he galvanised his troops for one final push.

Clear-headed enough to set up the winning position in the 100th minute, his leadership brought ultimate glory.

2. "Get down and shove,"

New Zealand 13-15 England, 14 June 2003

With England defending a slender lead at Wellington's Westpac Stadium in 2003, their hopes of a first win in New Zealand for 30 years looked to be over when Lawrence Dallaglio and Neil Back were both sin-binned.

But with the All Blacks awarded several scrums close to the England line, Johnson ordered his five remaining forward comrades to "get down and shove".

"You saw Martin Johnson at his absolute best in that 10-minute period," said coach Clive Woodward. "His leadership was just inspirational."

Asked after England's victory what was going through his head as he packed down, Johnson replied: "My spine."

3. Standing firm

Never was his leadership present more so than at Landsdowne Road in 2003 when shortly before kick-off against Ireland, Johnson broke protocol by refusing to move to the red carpet parade area, resulting in President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, having to walk across the uncovered grass to him instead.