Brian Moore challenges Martin Johnson to build on an improved showing by England against France in The Daily Telegraph.
"Fans, being fans, expected a steadily improving team, challenging strongly in this Six Nations. The utterly execrable nature of some of the play delivered therein and the failure publicly to recognise it as such, means that however seemingly encouraging was their showing against France, many people are wary of being let down again. It is for this reason that they continue to be sceptical about where Johnson is leading his team; hoping he is right but refusing to indulge in another potentially unrequited love affair until they get to see more of the goods.
"Johnson and his players may want supporters to get behind them, but they cannot seriously expect unquestioning adulation when they look at the last eight games as a whole; and by the way – they didn't actually beat France. Moral victories are for people prepared to accept second best.
"Yet it must be acknowledged that England were better than France in many facets of the game and as such the players selected are capable of playing with ball in hand and doing so dexterously. Few teams, including some from the Tri-Nations, have been able to cope with France's slingshot rush defence; yet within 15 minutes of the kick-off England had beaten it twice with good lines and fast hands, scoring a stunning try."
RSS feed
