Johnson’s mission to lure Edwards

Apr 20 2008 by Blair Wood, Wales On Sunday

NEW England guru Martin Johnson last night admitted that trying to poach Shaun Edwards away from Grand Slam-winning Wales was “mission impossible”.

Johnson confirmed he DID meet Edwards to discuss bringing him on board as a leading part of the new England revolution.

But he told Wales on Sunday he couldn’t break Edwards’ commitment to the Welsh cause as Warren Gatland’s right-hand man.

England’s new team manager says Edwards’ knockback means he has to look elsewhere to bolster his Red Rose coaching team.

But Johnson says if he hadn’t approached Edwards, he would always have regretted it.

“I just had to find out Shaun’s status, one way or the other,” said Johnson.

“To be honest I probably thought that his contract with Wales meant he would remain with them.

“But I had to ask him the question. If I hadn’t spoken to Shaun about it, it could never have happened anyway.

“I met up with Shaun and we had a conversation about everything. I didn’t even have the England job at that time, so it was hypothetical in a way.

“But he very quickly told me that he was committed to the Welsh team for the foreseeable future. I understood and fully respected his decision.

“After that we had a great conversation about rugby in general and the whole thing going on with England. He is the head man at Wasps and part of my new England deal is getting a closer rapport with the Premiership clubs for the good of our rugby in general.”

JOHNNO’S BIG VERDICT ON GATLAND’S WALES: Sport pullout