The Guardian's Paul Hayward looks ahead to the Twickenham clash between England and New Zealand and says it is time for Martin Johnson's project to deliver.
"The emasculation of England's greatest captain since Bobby Moore has been a painful running theme in the country's troubles since the losing World Cup final appearance of 2007: itself a mirage, in the sense that Brian Ashton's team reached that Paris climax through sheer brute stubbornness before returning to disorder.
"Johnson, who has been more media-friendly of late (he still hates questions about his own emotional processes or how he might have "changed as a person"), leads the way to a quiet corner at the team's plush Pennyhill Park base in Surrey and delivers a statement more powerful than it might sound: "You've probably got a narrower focus now on who you know you want to have around."
"A straight-talker turned diplomat, Johnson confirms England's open secret. Finally these are his men, this is his team, with no room for dilettantes or one-cap wonders. The sifting has been long and awkward and sometimes embarrassing. But now Johnson feels empowered to say: "What you need is a group of players who are the England team – and we haven't had that for a long time. We've had so many players in and out. You need to know who the England squad are. We're getting that way now.""
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