Well we are out and we deserve to be out. I guess I was hoping against hope that despite the turgid performances up until now that England would break out and make use of the many talented players they have.
The slight improvement in the second half in no way compensates for the unbelievably pathetic first half.
Johnson and the England coaching set up have bought this upon themselves. They were shown in the game against Australia last autumn, and for a lot of the six nations, how much potential England had to play an ambitious, width based game. Instead they choose the safe option. Johnson also put a couple of his mates in the team, despite neither being close to good enough in the twilight of their careers. Surely England have to move away from Wilkinson and Thompson now, it was no coincidence that there was more urgency and dynamism without them on the pitch.
As much as I respect Johnson, and admire him for what he achieved as a player and captain, he simply does not cut it as a coach. His tenure started poorly, had a really bright spell which he failed to build on, and has now returned to poor.
Time to go.
