Martin Johnson on why he has no desire to return to rugby and he backs England to come good in 2024

Lawrence sits down for a one-to-one chat with former England captain, Martin Johnson, as they mark the 20th anniversary of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in Australia.
Taking the chance to reminisce, Lol and Johnno recall the why the game that made them most nervous was actually in the pool stages of the tournament, how they convinced Sir Clive Woodward to change the training programme mid-way through the campaign and what winning the World Cup has meant to them on a personal level.
And as former Head Coach of England, Johnno also shares his views on what the current team need to do to progress their achievements at the RWC2023, as the pair also examine whether their own historic win should have left a better legacy for the game.
Plus, there are stories about Lawrence and Johnno’s first time on tour as room mates, life in the England camp in 2003 and their most treasured memories from their rugby careers.
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[@WalterWhite-sm2dr]

As a South African I would love to have a beer and chat rugby with Martin J… what a gladiator … wouldn’t take a step back and give his all for his team and country…

[@EnglishVeteran]

Great men, great players, great Englishmen. A great English Team. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌹🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🌹

[@Badlighter]

Brilliant English team of 2003. Dallaglio and Johnson being two of the greatest players of the professional era.

[@KmT81]

20 Years !I posted on Instagram Robinson's Try ,Wilko's drop goal and Johnson carrying the Cup. And I made an Art work on it .A great Match

[@mikegray8776]

Two immense figures in world Rugby - both one-club men for their entire careers - who were like the Redgrave & Pinsent of English Rugby …. who could LIFT the whole boat, just by being in it.

[@njmayhew]

just noticed a Tiger tank on Jonno's bookshelf!!

[@StephenjohnUnwin-nn2xj]

Englands all time greatest rugby captain and his right hand man !!!

[@bulltraderpt]

I'm surprised Lawrence uses notes. He can do this off the cuff with just a few pointers. He's so much better when he speaks from his heart.

[@simparms]

Johno is the King!

[@neil5006]

Awesome 👍

[@wyntonvisser429]

I miss the way MJ used to make angry-eyebrows at the press during post match interviews

[@nickcharnley19]

We have got to stop talking about this, it's becoming 1966, This was my generation and one of the best days and I felt it and feel it still, but we need to climb the hill again. We are always their or there about's, despite the manner of play, we end up close. we have not had that belief for sometime, where we know we are best, before crossing the line. It will come again, but I'm bored of you lot.

[@rossnathan8278]

"Is that all you've got." The day after the Australian first game, the same paper wrote "Is that all we've got"

[@samuelcecil9273]

oh wanted that to go on mate

[@stephencurtis1855]

jonno whats the story with the tank

[@JimmiesChoices]

❤

[@billbobby461]

How does this not have a comment yet?

[@jamesmcnaughtdavis7947]

Now it has two

[@neilick1]

Well....since 2003 not much happened for England against the Boks 🙂 ....Lost in two RWC finals and a RWC semi..Nice Pod though.

[@Jay-Leigh863]

Can't understand how either of these two great players could call the 2003 Springboks one of the best in the world. They were very young and coached by Rudolph Straueli, the worst coach we ever had! Remember the scandal of Kamp Staaldraad?

[@mikegray8776]

Corne Krige and Brendan Venter in 2002/03 were the absolute worst sportsmen of any sport, any era, ever - absolute thugs. But in fairness represented a low point from which SA have become harder -but utterly fair. For sure, Bakkies and Schalk had their moments, but the homicidal intent vanished after Krige was retired.

[@jkmb5758]

Totally agree regarding Krige - an absolute blot on Springbok rugby's reputation.

[@andrewharris1837]

D always interuppting Johno.😮

[@admiralbenbow5083]

What the hell would MJ do if he `returned to rugby`?? He ruined his reputation when he accepted the England coach job. I suggest he stays on the after dinner circuit for as long as he can and saves his money very carefully in the meantime.

[@Brutal_rugby]

lawrence did you pay your TAXES?

[@rolandlundall133]

As usual England looking back on past history and their only win in a WC. They are a losing nation and weak mentality. Springboks are four time world cup champions in limey's.

[@billbobby461]

I'm starting to question how much that really means though. No fault to the SA players but that call by Ben O'Keefe for holding on instead of the actual penalty of not supporting his body weight against Kwagga Smith was just absurd. He kept throwing his hands up at Dupont all game when SA were illegally slowing the ball down. Any tournament of a game that hinges so much on referee involvement cannot be considered legitimate if the referee refuses to actually implement the laws/rules. Its turned into nonsense. I'd also point out that cleanout on Mbonambi was atrocious from Frizzell and easily the dirtiest play in the tournament 100% intentional. I'm just pointing out that the sport itself is in deep trouble because if it can't become coherent in the implementation of its laws then its dead in the water, no way will they get away with that in the USA 2031RWC because Americans won't accept that ambiguity.

[@marcdaniels9079]

Congratulations! You are that Saffa … always trolling the YT comments to prove yet again that Bok fans are the most arrogant and obnoxious, which is why they are so universally disliked outside SA. Thankfully the team itself behave with both dignity and humility.

[@PropBoyGinge]

Also South African fans... Why doesn't anyone else like us.

[@jkmb5758]

​@@marcdaniels9079 It' sad that you generalise based on a few trolls. On that basis, every nation's fans can the be classified as arrogant and obnoxious. Universally disliked? - Another generalisation. Speaking for yourself and your little circle and assuming that everyone else shares your views.

[@steveg2479]

@@jkmb5758sadly, feeding the troll drags everyone else in. Every country has its share of morons.

[@leplessis8179]

Johnson was a good player and captain, but apart from those situations never the sharpest knife in the drawer. Deep thinking? - No. Strategic thinker? No. Too quick to get emotional? Yes. A great guy to have in your team, but not one that I would like tto mANAGE it.

[@samharrison5315]

Rugby intelligence was immense. People that have played the game don’t question it. It’s a fact. He was a trainee Bank manager before he went professional, back when, arguably,that was a very prestigious career. So I would say that he was fairly intelligent in the way you suggest he wasn’t.

[@marcdaniels9079]

Johnno: it was a bit niggly…a bit feisty.