Let’s give Johnno time to find the magic formula

BIG games don’t come around very often and this weekend is potentially one of the biggest games in the club’s history.

 

To travel down to Exeter and their fantastic new stadium at Sandy Park and win is a big ask but that is the task ahead this Saturday. 

Second place Exeter against third place Nottingham, the winner moving into second and catching Leeds Carnegie in the promotion race- it is going to be huge!

 

This weekend also sees the start of Martin Johnson’s reign as England head coach and I am sure there will be a baptism of fire waiting for him and his new charges take on the players from the Pacific Islands of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

 

It is an exciting time for English rugby and I am sure Martin Johnson is the best man for the job but the public and media must give him time to settle in and mould the team around him.

 

Let’s not forget that it took Clive Woodward a few years to find the best formula and ultimately a world class side. 

 

Things have slipped since then and Johnson will bring a new lease of life to the England team.  But he must be allowed to make mistakes and lose games and risk a little to hopefully gain a lot more.

 

Whether it is football, rugby or cricket we always expect perfect performances and winning teams on every occasion but does it really matter if we lose a friendly here or there? 

 

Let’s look at the wider picture and give our teams a chance to grow and gel together.  English sport has a habit of being a little bit short sighted, winning the major Championships are obviously the aim so let’s trust those in charge to be building for the future.  Martin Johnson will have a game plan and I look forward to seeing that evolve.