MARTIN JOHNSON: I'VE GOT IT RIGHT

MARTIN JOHNSON has fiercely defended his selection policy and vowed: I won't waste England's golden generation.

England's miserable autumn series saw boss Jonno fall back on veterans including Simon Shaw, 36, and Jonny Wilkinson, 30, as the home side adopted a safety-first policy.

With less than two years until the World Cup, fears are growing that a host of exciting young stars will be left by the wayside.

Ben Foden, Mathew Tait, Courtney Lawes and Danny Cipriani have been repeatedly overlooked but Johnson is adamant he is getting the balance right.

He said: "If you chuck guys in there who aren't ready they are going to be spat out - and spat out very, very quickly.

"People say you've got to be creative, you need the maverick, well it's a brutal world out there let me tell you that.

"The younger group of players coming through, the more exposure they can have to Test match rugby the better, obviously. But you also have to pick your best team to win a Test match.

"With all those individual young players you have got to bring them on at the right place."

England scored just one try in three Tests and Jonno's record now stands at six wins from 14 games in charge. Wilkinson's unwillingness to play flat to the gain line at fly-half, in contrast to his southern hemisphere counterparts, has hampered England.

But Johnson has no doubt the world-record Test points scorer has the capability to unleash England's three quarters.

Johnson said: "You have to understand what we are trying to do and what we are asking Jonny to do. It's just become one of those things to beat him with.

"I'm confident he's a world-class international 10. The statement that Jonny stands too deep doesn't stand up. He's doing what he's been told to do, right or wrong."

Elite rugby chief Rob Andrew blamed England's problems on an injury list that saw up to 40 per cent of the squad ruled out at any one time this autumn.

Despite calls for extra rest and a reduction in games, Andrew intends to accept an invitation to add three provincial matches to next summer's tour to Australia and New Zealand. But resistance from clubs and the Rugby Players' Association could yet see the plan KO'd.

Andrew said: "We're working through issues with Premier Rugby and New Zealand to try and achieve it.

"All these things are being addressed. How many players do we take? Player welfare, the five-day rule. We have to deal with those issues."

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