Gillingham: England are going backwards

EIGHTEEN months into the job, England manager Martin Johnson (pictured) continues to have the confidence of his employers at the Rugby Football Union. That shouldn't surprise us. They relentlessly pursued him and then built him up as the saviour of English rugby despite his obvious lack of experience.

On the evidence of the past three weekends, English rugby has stagnated under the former captain's supervision. Four hours of rugby produced just one try and a single victory against a significantly under-strength Argentina.

Australia, badly beaten in the Tri-Nations, outplayed us while New Zealand, jaded by a long season and with half-an-eye on the tour's toughest test against France in Marseilles this Saturday, did just enough to keep themselves comfortably in front.

Having retreated to the lager amid criticism from, among others, 2003 World Cup-winning team-mates, Johnson emerged from Saturday's defeat by the All Blacks with the claim that "We have definitely moved forward."

It is a statement that demands further clarity.

For a man who has always defined achievement by how many times you win, it is hard to see how Johnson can look anyone in the eye – not least himself – and claim his side have made progress this autumn.

His selections are at best conservative. Steve Borthwick, Jordan Crane and Louis Deacon are not the sort of names to inspire fear in the opposition even in a Guinness Premiership fixture.

Matt Banahan is not an international class wing while – and this may be heresy to some – England will not challenge for the 2011 World Cup with Jonny Wilkinson in the side.

The World Cup winner was the game's leading fly-half six years ago and remains an example for any youngsters to follow.

If you do subscribe to the notion of promoting role models in any British sport then Wilkinson is the best we have. His quiet modesty, devotion to duty and professionalism make him a cut above. But as a player, his best days are behind him.

Shane Geraghty must now be given an extended run at 10.

I would also consider promoting Geraghty's Northampton team-mate Phil Dowson to the squad as captain.

Sadly, I suspect neither will happen.

Johnson is into survival mode. Critics will be written off as subversives and the match-by-match mentality will be carried through the Six Nations where, I suspect, a couple of positive results will provide a comfort blanket for fans and evidence for Johnson to assure us that his masterplan is taking shape.

The problem is that the clock is running down to the next World Cup. And unless something startling happens in the meantime and Johnson sees the light then the outcome in New Zealand is depressingly predictable.