Kyran bracken backs martin johnson to succeed as england rugby boss

By Simon Hayes on May 15, 2008 8:59 AM |

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FORMER England scrum-half Kyran Bracken believes Martin Johnson couldn’t have been handed a harder start to his time as England manager – a trip to New Zealand.

Johnson announced his squad on Tuesday to face an All Black side still smarting from their shock exit from last year’s World Cup. Bracken, who made his debut against them in 1993, thinks it’s a big ask for an inexperienced England team.

“It’s the toughest place to go on the planet,” he said. “What a place to start. There’s some new blood going out there and he [Johnson] must be nervous having to pick his squad, with a few injuries and big games coming up. But he’s a tremendous leader and I’m confident he’ll make a success of it.”

Bracken, capped 51 times, hopes to play his own small role in England’s development and has been talking to the RFU about passing on his knowledge to the latest clutch of young scrum-halves.

It’s part of a major coaching reshuffle, with Johnson taking over from Brian Ashton, and Bracken thinks England should encourage the man who took them to last year’s World Cup final to come back on board.

He said: “England are very impatient, they want success now. I could have seen Brian working under Martin but I think it’s a pride thing when you’re the man with full control. Brian will be back in some capacity because he’s got a lot to offer.”

Since retiring in 2006 Bracken, 36, has reinvented himself as an ice dancer, recently appearing in the Dancing On Ice tour at The O2. But he’s still passionate about rugby and has plenty of ideas to revive England’s fortunes.

“There’s definitely a lot of talent in England,” he said. “But there have to be fewer games, better coaching, better planning, more enthusiasm at club level to get players fit and ready for England, more cohesion between the RFU and the clubs, more specialist coaching and more organisation.

“Going back to the World Cup win in 2003, that was after eight years planning with Clive Woodward. We know a formula that works – work together longer, pick the best players on form, get settled leaders, get very good organisation and coaches around you who know what they are doing and you’ll get world class performances.

“Martin Johnson knows that’s what he has to do but to get all those foundations in is going to take a while.”

Bracken was speaking at the launch of HSBC Insurance’s annual report at their Canada Square headquarters on Tuesday.

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk