England rugby enters a new dawn this weekend with the arrival of English rugby legend, Martin Johnson, in charge for the first time. I’m sure that a large number of the supporters at Twickenham will be expecting a quick return to the glory days of the early noughties, but is this a realistic expectation?

Inexperience

However great Johnno’s achievements as a player, it’s important that people remember that this is his first coaching appointment. Given his inexperience it’s unrealistic to assume his team will go and claim a clean sweep against the Tri-Nation sides. We are at the beginning of a long journey for English rugby, in the same way as when Clive Woodward took over in 1997. These next four weeks are the first steps towards Johnson’s master plan.

Strong spine needed

Firstly, Johnno will need to find a core of players that he can build a squad around. For far too long, England have been unwilling to do this and have chopped and changed their side too regularly. It is little wonder that the team has struggled to build fluid attacks or settle upon an effective defensive system! Johnson will need to find his talisman, which at the moment he has earmarked as Steve Borthwick. He also needs to find his lieutenants and build the spine of the team.

Although fans may not like it, at this stage it’s fair to say that results are not the most important factor. What would Johnson prefer against Australia, a 6-3 win, or a performance that shows potential and highlights players that can make it at the top level? I think at this stage in his managerial career it would probably be the latter.

Baptism of fire

It is not just because Johnson is so new to management that England fans should not expect too much from their team. Johnno has been given arguably the hardest test possible for a first set of games, with Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in the space of two weeks. England, in their glory days only managed to clean sweep them all once and two of those wins were by 1 point!

Managing expectations is one thing but will it be all doom and gloom for England this November? One of their greatest hopes will be the Johnson factor itself. Martin Johnson is a man who has inspired Leicester to domestic and European championships, England to Triple Crowns, Grand Slams and a World Cup triumph and also the British Lions to victory against the World Champions, South Africa. His motivational skills are second to none. He is a rugby hybrid of Bobby Moore and Lord Kitchener, leading by example and commanding respect. If he can transfer that passion to his team, then it will equate to England playing with an extra man.

Young bucks ready

Another positive is that Johnson has arguably the best two young half backs in the world in Danny Care and Danny Cipriani. Care has been in sensational form this season for Harlequins and while Cipriani lacks game time this season, he was, for the majority of last season, the most exciting player in the league. In these two, Johnson will be pinning his hopes.

So what does the next month hold for the former world champions? I do not see them having too many problems against the Pacific Islanders, although they can probably expect to end the game with a few bruises and a couple of bloody noses. With the other three, I think it would be unthinkable to see another clean sweep for England, but Johnson would be delighted with a win against one of them and running two of them close.

South Africa beware

England’s best chance will probably lie against South Africa, who are still reeling from the Luke Watson “scandal”. They still contain the majority of their World Cup winning side, but political turmoil and the fact that the new coach Pieter De Villiers does not seem to command the same respect as Jake White did, will give England hope.