English Rugby
Moody lends backing to Johnson
ESPNscrum Staff
November 9, 2011

Former England skipper Lewis Moody has given his backing to coach Martin Johnson and insists he should remain in charge of the national side.

With England hosting a World Cup on home soil in 2015, Moody insists now is not the time for knee-jerk reactions and instead insists stability is the best way forward for the national team. England under-performed in the 2011 World Cup - suffering a quarter-final exit - but Moody cites the example of Graham Henry as where an organisation has kept faith in an under fire coach and have reaped the benefits four years later.

And with a host of young players coming through the ranks, the Bath flanker believes there is no one better than Johnson to help them realise their potential.

"He has built this team and given a new lease of life to it," Moody told Sky Sports News. "Young guys have come in like Ben Youngs, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Chris Ashton and Ben Foden. All those guys he has brought in and they have really flourished in the international scene.

"I think to have a knee-jerk reaction and to get rid of him would be very wrong. Probably the bigger question is does Johnno want to continue? I really hope he does. He is definitely the man in my eyes to take us through to 2015.

"I think to have a knee-jerk reaction and to get rid of him would be very wrong. Probably the bigger question is does Johnno want to continue? I really hope he does. He is definitely the man in my eyes to take us through to 2015."

"You can compare Graham Henry's disappointment in 2007 when they were knocked out by France in the World Cup. The New Zealand rugby union stuck by him and now he has reaped the rewards in 2011.

"It was the same to some degree in '99 with Clive Woodward and the team that won in 2003, so I think it's important that Johnno stays."

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