Johnson regrets ball switching fiasco

NOT FOR the first time in the tournament Martin Johnson was forced into crisis mode yesterday. On the eve of England’s biggest game in this World Cup so far, he expressed regret for the ball-switching controversy that has overshadowed the build-up while insisting it would not deflect his team from their goal of reaching the quarter-finals.

Johnson was left to hope his words would prove accurate after the English Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) decision to ban Dave Alred, the kicking coach, and Paul Stridgeon, the fitness coach, from attending the game against Scotland.

Alred and Stridgeon have been punished for their deliberate attempts to assist Jonny Wilkinson against Romania last Saturday by supplying him with his favourite match ball to kick conversions.

“In the heat of a World Cup match these guys have made a mistake and they have paid for it,” Johnson said. “They should have asked the referee, but we didn’t do it. We got it wrong, we’ve admitted it, addressed it and got on with it. If we’re derailed by things like this you’re not going to give yourself any chance. It’s a bump in the road. We got it wrong and we put our hands up.”

Johnson stressed he considers the matter closed, the tournament organisers having indicated that they are satisfied with the RFU’s decision to suspend the pair. Johnson was consulted but he acknowledged it had not been his decision alone. “I don’t suspend guys lightly. We regret what we did and it was wrong.”

It has become increasingly clear, however, that England’s actions were only taken after they received a letter warning they could face a charge of misconduct and, potentially, be forced to attend a full disciplinary hearing before the Scotland game.

The prospect of Johnson and Wilkinson being summoned to give evidence on the eve of such a significant match appears to have been a strong consideration in the RFU’s decision to take action against Alred and Stridgeon. There will be no formal investigation, therefore, into precisely who else knew in advance about the ball-swapping plan.

Despite their impending suspension, Alred and Stridgeon took a full part in England’s final training session at Eden Park, with Alred fulfilling his customary role as Wilkinson’s resident kicking tutor.

Wilkinson will have had no option but to alter his pre-match routine, although Scotland’s main kicker, Chris Paterson, reckoned Alred’s absence would not be significant.

“If it was me I would just go through my normal routine,” Paterson said. “Jonny’s kicked for a long time. He’ll understand what he needs to do to perform.”