'He's been getting a lot of grief but we recognise his importance to the squad and the specialist coaching team which he has put at our disposal.
'He said he wanted to make England very special. I think he's done it and will continue to do it. Clive is very different, always has been and that's good because he is constantly stimulating people and ensuring they don't get into a rut.' Johnson also dismissed as 'nonsense' suggestions that Woodward's decision to overlook him for the fateful Grand Slam decider in Scotland last season caused a rift between the pair.
'Clive rang me up and said he was going to stick with the team which had won the four previous games,' said Johnson. 'I told him that I supported his decision one hundred per cent.'
