Martin Johnson Resigns As England Coach

Martin Johnson has decided to resign as manager of the England Rugby team, speculation had been mounting whether Johnson would remain at helm. After being let down by the players on and off the field, Johnson has called time on his career as national team coach.

England failed to live up to expectations at this year World Cup in New Zealand and were knocked out by France in the quarter-finals but it was their off-field behaviour that will be remembered.

Vice-captain Mike Tindall admitted misleading the team management over a night out in Queenstown in which the player was fined £25,000 and told his England career was over after a drinking session that spiralled out of control in New Zealand.

But that was just the tip of the iceberg, with James Haskell and Chris Ashton also reprimanded for bad behaviour, while Manu Tuilagi was fined for jumping off a ferry in Auckland harbour.

Johnson has been roundly criticised for a lack of discipline in his squad and it was the high-profile misbehaviour of Tindall - now a member of the royal family after his marriage to Zara Philips - that attracted the most negative publicity.

Johnson, who captained England to their World Cup triumph in 2003, called a meeting with his coaching team on Wednesday morning to explain his decision to walk away from the job he has held since July 2008. 

Johnson decision to retire will come as no surprise after the level of criticism he had received after England’s poor performance in New Zealand.

Delon Armitage Looking To The Future

Delon Armitage has insisted that his bad boy days are behind him as he looks to cement his place in England’s World Cup squad, Armitage has been selected to play for England against Wales this weekend and the player would like to resurrect his career with England.

Armitage was banned twice last season, including an eight week suspension for shoving and abusing an anti-doping official which ruled him out of the RBS Six Nations, the player enjoyed a successful start to his England career in 2008-09 season and the England management kept faith in him.

Although the player was banned, the 27-year-old was allowed to train with the England squad and on Saturday will get his chance to start a Test for the first time in 17 months and press his claims for World Cup selection.

"It is no secret I have found it hard to manage by emotions," admitted Armitage.

"I play the game with passion and sometimes with a little bit too much. That is what I have been working on. I like playing on the edge; it just needs to be a little bit controlled sometimes.

"The last year didn't go as well as I wanted it to. I am just glad I am here with an opportunity to get back in the squad.

"I want to play for England and nothing is going to stop me getting where I want to get. It has been a long wait for me.

"What happened happened. I felt really bad about it but now I am back focused on playing well for England and trying to get into the World Cup squad."

Martin Johnson remains upbeat

Martin Johnson impressed with England's performance

England boss Martin Johnson is confident his side are making progress despite finishing their autumn campaign with defeat to South Africa. Yet Johnson insists England is no longer a collection of individuals, but a team gelling together and ready to embark on the Six Nations tournament in little more than two months time.

Although losing the final game against the current World Champions, England show displays of grit and determination to overcome Australia and Western Samoa after losing the first game against New Zealand.

"We're far better for getting through a Test series," he said.

"It's a learning experience emotionally, controlling the ups and downs and dealing with the intensity for some of the guys and they have done it very well really.

"We do expect more. We set our standards and we did not meet those clearly.

"But we are playing good teams. You make mistakes and errors and people get injured and you get penalised and you disagree and all these things, but you have to overcome them.

"The team's going in the right direction and we can be a pretty good team but consistency is the key.

"Everyone in the autumn series, with the exception of the All Blacks, has been a bit up and down. Good Test teams go out and are difficult to beat every week."

Johnson is under no illusion that there is room for improvement, but he is happy with how the side has developed during the autumn campaign.

"You always want to improve and move on and we have certainly done it," said Johnson.

"As a group just having the time together and going through ups and downs is huge. I think we've got a team now definitely. Everyone wants to be in it. It's very competitive to get in it.

"The medics have done a great job keeping everyone fit and healthy and the coaches have done a great job as well.

"No-one's going to sit back and think we're anywhere near there. There is a long way to go and a long way we can go.

"Loads of great pluses. Everyone who has played has played well. For those guys in sub-10, sub-20 Test matches everything is new and absorbed."