Martin Johnson believes England head into this year’s Six Nations as genuine contenders, but insists that the best player in the championship this year won’t be wearing white.
Greene King is offering a free pint to anyone who books a table at a Greene King sports pub for a Six Nations game on Saturday 7 February. Customers can claim their pint by booking online and showing confirmation at the bar.
With Steve Borthwick’s team on an 11 game winning run and showing signs of real maturity, expectations are rising, yet the World Cup winning captain is cautious about making bold predictions in a tournament defined by fine margins and relentless pressure.
Few people understand those demands better than Johnson. As a player, captain and later England manager, he has seen the Six Nations from every angle. From Grand Slams as a forward and skipper to steering England to the title from the coaching box in 2011, his history in the competition gives real weight to his views as another campaign gets underway.
England head into this year’s tournament opener against Wales with genuine belief. They are on an 11 game winning run and have not lifted the trophy since 2020, but there is a sense that their young group has grown into Test rugby together. Johnson, though, is wary of certainty. “I wouldn’t be putting a huge amount of money on any team for certain to win because they’re one off games, anything can happen to a degree.”
France still loom large, regardless of selection surprises that have seen Damian Penaud, Gregory Alldritt and Gael Fickou left out. “We’ll see how some of their younger guys go. If you think about France who’s not in their squad, they always have good players. And they can always score tries.” Johnson believes away wins in Paris still demand ambition as well as resilience, noting that England may need to push into the mid 20s on the scoreboard to come away victorious.
Asked about players to watch, he is drawn to French flair once again. “Well, I think the French winger, Louis Bielle-Biarrey. I mean, he’s an obvious choice, isn’t he?” Johnson’s admiration is clear, comparing the excitement he brings to the ball with memories of Jason Robinson in full flight.
For England, Johnson focuses less on hype and more on substance. “It’s hard playing away in the Six Nations. Wherever you go is hard, they’re going to play well, they want to beat you, they’ll be up for it, particularly against England.” He sees strength in the back five and improving depth up front, with experience at fly-half offering control when conditions bite. Winter rugby, he reminds us, often demands pragmatism as much as expression.
That sense of tradition and shared experience sits neatly alongside Greene King’s Fans Reunited campaign, which Johnson fronts alongside Robinson. With over a third of Brits not having reconnected with someone important in more than five years, the initiative encourages supporters to come together again over rugby, with a free pint helping to bring people back into pubs where friendships are forged and maintained.
The tournament begins in Paris on Thursday night, a rare start that Johnson is relaxed about. “I think the Six Nations is a bit of a highlight of the winter, really. Give you something to look forward to at the weekends.” For someone who has lived its highs and lows, that feeling never seems to fade.
