Johnson resigns as England manager

I don't know why the RFU would want Mallett, he took Italy backwards during his tenure.

Looks like the RFU will do anything to get Mallett, as there seem few obvious alternatives: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/twickenham-goes-hammer-and-tongs-to-entice-mallett-6263914.html

Is there such a thing as the bad old days let alone a return to it? or is it just touring? I've been fortunate to spent plenty of nights out with some of the games biggest names. Most of the things the English guys have be copping stick for are just run of the mill....not just for pro rugby players but for any bloke with a decent/fun social life. Fact of the matter is the media simply followed the English team trying to cause trouble.

Did the bad old days ever leave. The English toured NZ as Johnson was appointed coach, but he didn't actaully make the trip. Rob Andrews was in charge and there were serious off field allegations of a sexual nature on that trip too.

Seconded.

'Under him England lost the professionalism of the Woodward era, something that I thought both Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton had managed, or at least attempted, to retain, and returned England to the bad old days of a touring boy’s club: all heavy drinking, party games, and a “what goes on tour, stays on tour” attitude (not something that can be done in these days of digital technology & social media).' Really? Do tell.

"I would hope that the RFU will now bring in someone who can re-instil that sense of discipline and pride, so obviously lacking in the team whilst in New Zealand." Perhaps the RFU need to face up to their own share in the responsibility first.

oh, and then keyboard and bar talk hero's buy into the over dramatization of the stories, mount their high horses and talk about how shocking the behavior is... all the while ether acting the same in their private lives or no doubt in the past.

Still amazes me that a bunch of blokes acting like normal blokes are hung out to dry.....while the w@nkers who leak the images and stories are patted on the back.

very well said Colin.

I had grave misgivings about Martin Johnson at the time of his appointment, and his tenure as manager did nothing to dispel them. Under him England lost the professionalism of the Woodward era, something that I thought both Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton had managed, or at least attempted, to retain, and returned England to the bad old days of a touring boy's club: all heavy drinking, party games, and a "what goes on tour, stays on tour" attitude (not something that can be done in these days of digital technology & social media). I would hope that the RFU will now bring in someone who can re-instil that sense of discipline and pride, so obviously lacking in the team whilst in New Zealand. I think that the only people who will miss Johnson as manager will be the players themselves, at least, those that still harbour ambitions of boozy old-school tours.

Too close to the players, he wanted to be still one of the boys with them and that don't work at this level. And his selections at times were mystifying something like Deans. I wonder who they will get??????

Before people jump to hasty conclusions, you should ask: was he really a failure? He led England to their most successful Six Nations in eight years, their first away victory againt one of the big SH teams in quite some time (I think that's eight years as well) and then introduced excellent young players like Foden, Ashton, Youngs Lawes, Corbisiero, Cole, Tuilagi which is something that the two previous regimes failed to do an the reason Johnson started his time in the role in a mess - he effectively had to build from scratch. Again, he had a plan, a structure to build England. He made mistakes, none more so in the World Cup but at least he's laid a platform for the next incumbent to build upon, again something Johnson never had when he took the job.

Maybe he would have made a better coach than manager.

More proof that great players dont make good managers.