Johnson bids his farewell bloodied but still unbowed

In the past you might have fancied you could see everything in Martin Johnson's face but the temptation was brief on the Saturday night when he finally admitted that he would never again pull on an England shirt. It was the same old rumpled map of bumps and abrasions and cussed resolve, though there was something else too. Maybe it was a sob of regret that just wouldn't, or perhaps couldn't, come out.

On one side a great raw welt was rising like a souffle. "Jonno got a shoeing, obviously," said one aficionado. The hero's lips looked as though they had been massaged with a garden rake. His eyes stared out, as they always do, implacably, searching out the unguarded, the vulnerable. At certain times eye contact with Johnson is only for the very bold or the uncaring.

But on this occasion the challenge was more complicated. You wanted to know how he was truly feeling, but the more he talked the more he retreated behind an action man's front.

Maybe the retreat was caused by the nag that the great Gareth Edwards spoke of when his own days as a giant on the world stage were dwindling. "You want to play as long as you can at the highest level," said Edwards, "because you know that you will miss it until the day you die. But you also know that as long as you do it, you have to do it right - and that's the tricky business."

Johnson plainly wanted to be anywhere but in a packed room room that was waiting for him to spill out his emotional innards as a television production girl breathlessly counted down his arrival, then squeaked, "he's here now, yes he's here!"

So he spoke sparingly. He said there would never be a time when he didn't want to play for England, not even when he was 50 or 60 and sitting in an armchair. He had loved every minute of it, playing with great players, working for good coaches. The memories stretched back over over 11 years and 84 caps. It had been hard and brilliant, and all he wanted to be remembered for was the fact that he had always tried his best. "You know when it is time to go," said Johnson. "It's not something you have to talk about too much."

His formal announcement that he had indeed played his last international game was clumsily managed. Leicester's director of coaching, Dean Richards, who might reasonably been been described as embattled before Johnson's titanic contribution to the pulverising of recent tormentors Ulster, coyly danced around any final assessment of an extraordinary career until someone pointed out that an official statement had been handed out in the press box during the game.

It came around the time Johnson was galloping in for a try that spoke not of retirement but an unquenchable thirst for the action. That, and a classic second row performance that must have made the blood of the Ulstermen run cold in the biting wind scouring Welford Road, was pretty much the sum of Johnson's eloquence. Before the cameras he was caged, irritable. No change here, no dalliance with rare emotion, still less sentimentality.

As he marched out into the rest of his life - which will involve more time with his wife, Kay, and daughter, Molly, but also a continued commitment to the Leicester Tigers he had so spectacularly lifted from their death-beds on Saturday afternoon - the tributes began to flow all over again.

Leicester chairman Peter Tom said: "Martin has been an inspiration as captain for Leicester, England and the British Lions, he has led by example both on an off the field. He has been the best possible ambassador for Leicester throughout his international career and I know that every one of our supporters is proud of what he has achieved. However, England's loss, is Leicester's gain, and we hope that he will continue to play for us for many years to come."

Richards said, finally: "Martin has been a pleasure to play with and coach during our long association, and must go down in international rugby history as one of the all-time greats. Even with intense media focus and adulation falling on him after his team's wonderful achievement in Australia recently, he has remained the same humble and level-headed character he was when he first came to the club as a youngster. With Martin's retirement from international rugby, England is not only losing a great captain and player, but a man who typifies the spirit of the game."

No one, and maybe least of all Richards, was going to say that amid the glory there was a streak of untrammelled violence that had been known to take the breath away, and that before the World Cup apex in Australia and either side of the brilliantly impeccable leadership of the Lions in 1997 there had been breakdowns in control which, at a more mature stage of rugby's professional development, might have caused serious doubts about his international future. But the point now was that Johnson had come through with his reputation glowing; the king was fully dressed and God help the witless boy who chose to differ.

If there were any regrets at Welford Road they were merely to do with matters of style and timing. No doubt it would have been better if Johnson had gone in the fashion of his French counterpart, Fabien Galthié, the scrum half-aesthete who made a poetic exit from the international game after France's semi-final defeat by England in Sydney. A week later Johnson could have gone at the scene of his greatest triumph, at the moment of World Cup triumph, rather than in this stagey setting, which literally fell apart when Johnson stepped down seconds before the collapse of the television backdrop.

Johnson plainly could not have cared less. He had done what needed to be done, and rugby history could make of his legacy what it liked. It is one that will grow hugely down the years. The interim verdict is that he has surpassed all the great second-rowers from the legendary All Black Colin "Pine Tree" Meads to Australia's World Cup-winning John Eales, and with this judgement already rendered, it was perhaps the Ulster coach, Alan Solomons, who delivered the most acute testimonial.

Said Solomons: "He's going out at the top. It's a magnificent, tough decision - but a very wise one."

Jonno suggested that in fact it had been as instinctive as so much of his career. "It's not about getting caps, if it's time to go it's time to go," he said. But Solomons unquestionably had a point. Looking at Johnson as he soared in the line-out, as he muscled the heart out of the Ulster pack and, more improbably, streamed in for a try which might have been crucial to Leicester's advance in the Heineken Cup, no-one could have guessed that this was a talent in decay.

No, this wasn't defeat by the passage of time, simply an acknowledgement that it gets everyone in the end. Johnson was simply employing a warrior's trick. He was remaining one long stride ahead.

JOHNSON'S ROLL OF HONOUR

Premiership wins: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Pilkington Cup wins: 1993, 1997
Heineken Cup wins: 2001, 2002
English player of the season: 1999
Rugby World Cup win: 2003
Six Nations Grand Slams: 1995, 2003

CAREER RECORD

Leicester Tigers: Apps: 306. Tries: 16
England: 84 caps (39 as captain)
Test points: 10
Test tries: 2
Lions: 8 caps (6 as captain)

CAPTAINS IN WAITING: FIVE CONTENDERS FOR THE ENGLAND LEADERSHIP

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO

(Wasps, No 8, 65 caps, age 31)

The obvious short-term choice. Was Woodward's captain before that tabloid sting in 1999 cast a "drugs shame" shadow over what had been a flawless career. Nevertheless, still has the respect of the squad and knows - from bitter experience - how to handle the media. Will not be around for next World Cup though. Odds: 6-4

PHIL VICKERY

(Gloucester, prop, 38 caps, age 27)

The obvious long-term choice. As perhaps the most destructive prop on the planet, Vickery is sure of his place and looks a good bet to be the captain at 2007 World Cup. Received unstinting praise for his captaincy of an under-strength England side who won in Argentina in 2002. From the same mould as Johnson. Odds: 7-2

RICHARD HILL

(Saracens, flanker, 63 caps, age 30)

Woodward turned to "the quiet man" to lead England in the celebration waltz against New Zealand Barbarians last month and, despite a broken nose, enjoyed the experience. As one of England's most influential performers, Hill would be a safe choice who would not let anyone, least of all his country, down. Odds: 4-1

JONNY WILKINSON

(Newcastle, fly-half, 52 caps, age 24)

The golden boy was Johnson's vice-captain which should really make him the favourite to take over. But many believe that Wilkinson has enough on his shoulders without this extra burden. Is not comfortable in the media spotlight, but does have the respect of all and is inspirational in actions if not in words. Odds: 10-1

NEIL BACK

(Leicester, flanker, 66 caps, age 35)

The Tiger with the heart of a lion is in the twilight of his career but does possess all the skills required. Boasts a 100 per cent record in the four games he has led England in, and does want the job. Is the captain at Leicester, as well as being a long-time teammate of Johnson, so it would be a seamless transition. Odds: 14-1