The changing face of England manager Martin Johnson - pictured on his first day in the job in April 2008 and following his side's victory over Argentina last weekend © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Martin Johnson

Teams: England

England manager Martin Johnson should be a man under pressure. His side are wallowing in mediocrity, unable to throw off the shackles of expectation while his players lack direction and ambition. Critics continue to question the lack of leadership and rumours persist of disquiet within the camp. But while the credentials of his coaching team have come under the microscope, Johnson himself appears immune to the fallout.

His boss, Rugby Football Union director of elite rugby Rob Andrew, is standing by his man. In a pre-emptive strike last month he insisted that his former England team-mate was the man to lead the side to Rugby World Cup 2011 but two turgid displays will have had him fidgeting in his plush seat in Twickenham's West Stand. The prospect of another disastrous end of year campaign did little to unnerve Johnson's former team-mate who declared, "We'll deal with what happens when it happens." We're one bad game from 'it' happening. Remember, this is the man who said Brian Ashton wouldn't be sacked from the post before orchestrating his proposed 'transfer' to the National Academy.

It appears the RFU are prepared to be patient and they are not alone. The press have been happy to tear into England's performances with the kind of vigour sadly lacking from the team itself but they have refused to lower their sights on Johnson directly and have instead turned the screw on the entire England set-up that is currently masquerading as an international heavyweight.

"England are paralysed by anxiety," wrote Mick Cleary in the Daily Telegraph after England's latest dismal showing. "They have the collective body language of a nervous wreck. They lack ambition because they lack belief."

"They have been together for well over a year, but we have to ask exactly what Martin Johnson's coaching group is achieving," penned the Sunday Times' Stephen Jones after their defeat to the Wallabies.

While in their 'Five things England must do to arrest the slide' the Guardian made no mention of a change at the top.

Let us not forget that Johnson was appointed despite having no coaching qualifications. No one has suggested he is out of his depth or even hinted at such.

In the words of The Independent's Chris Hewett, the England boss is 'bombproof' but it goes beyond that and Johnson would currently give Iron Man a run for his money. The buck stops with Johnson but shows no signs of damaging his rep. The fans and the media choose instead to empathise with Johnson who admittedly has had to deal with more than his fair share of injuries. The Johnson seen attempting to break a chair with his bare hands at Croke Park earlier this year and with his head in his hands only last week was not portrayed as a man under pressure but as someone short-changed by his players.

Perhaps this seed was sown by the players themselves following a high-profile bout of yellow fever during last year's autumn internationals? Either way, Johnson has been seen as the figure trying to pull the side up to meet his expectations and not someone failing to inspire greatness. It is hard to imagine any other figure being given this much leeway in terms of understanding for failings.

Ashton was shown the door having seen his England side reach the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final and claim second spot in the Six Nations. His record of 12 wins from 22 matches warranted much better treatment but there was no such sympathy from the RFU. His predecessor Andy Robinson, now in charge of Scotland, paid the price for a disappointing run of results that brought nine wins from 22 matches with that on-field failure the key to his exit.

Johnson has six wins from his 13 matches since returning from the well-paid but less cut-throat rugby wilderness that is the corporate circuit. Discounting the defeats to New Zealand overseen by Andrew at the start of his tenure, Johnson therefore needs four wins between this weekend and the start of the next autumn campaign to eclipse Robinson's apparently untenable record. That period will include trips to Paris and Murrayfield and a two-Test series with Australia.

The significance of his appointment as 'manager' may go some way to explaining his treatment. He can be seen presiding over training at his side's palatial base in Surrey but it is his coaching team of John Wells (forwards), Brian Smith (backs), Mike Ford (defence) and Graham Rowntree (scrum) who are tasked with putting Johnson's ideas into practice. It is safe to assume that this brains trust work together but makes equal sense that if the players fail to comply then the blame will lie with them and the 'middle men'. The RFU dodged a bullet by not appointing him as coach and perhaps foresaw such a scenario.

Johnson hoists the Webb Ellis Cup on a famous day in 2003 © Getty Images

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I am the proud owner of a close to life-size image of Johnson in full glory, hoisting the sport's biggest prize above his head following England's dramatic victory over Australia in the finale to Rugby World Cup 2003. That moment of unbridled joy was the pinnacle moment of an outstanding playing career that encompassed 84 England caps, three tours with British & Irish Lions - two as captain, a Six Nations grand slam and numerous Heineken Cup and Premiership titles. How much of that would he trade for a victory against the All Blacks this weekend? Or even to see his players display that level of emotion? I imagine he would rather trade it for the chance to put his boots on and return to the coalface himself. As a player he was more a man of action than words but suited and on the sidelines he must discover a new leadership dynamic.

Pressure or no pressure, England's top job appears to be taking its toll and not just on Johnson's formidable reputation. There are a few more grey hairs and the famous furrowed brow is in danger of enveloping the rest of his face. But he can seemingly rest easy knowing he has time on his side. It took Clive Woodward six years to achieve a Grand Slam and Rugby World Cup double and that success is largely the reason why the bar is set so high now - along with a southern hemisphere success rate with Johnson himself at its heart.

You sense he will get it right in the end. Johnson is a winner, has the largest talent pool and the world's richest union behind him and with the support of his employers, fans and the media surely he cannot fail? Watch this space.