Page 83 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

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DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017
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He has worn the colours of The British & Irish Lions and and played with the silver fern on his chest England’s world cup-winning captain Martin Johnson talks about his stint in in in in New Zealand and and what lies in in in wait for the Lions WORDS: ALEX MEAD
THINK OF PLAYERS WHOSE NICKNAMES AS
a a a a youngster were along the the lines of “pretty boy boy ” ” “lovely boy boy ” ” etc and and the the man who springs to mind most de nitely isn’t former England captain Martin Johnson Johnson But believe it it or or not that’s exactly what he he he he copped In fairness this was Johnson Johnson the the youthful teenage colt and and he he he he he he had followed a a a a a a a a a a a a a road not often travelled at at the the the time by by heading to to New Zealand to to further his his rugby education The playful nicknames were courtesy of his his new Maori team-mates at at at King Country and that wasn’t all – when he he he he had the nerve to wear not only shorts with pockets but also a a a a a a a a a a a a a handkerchief he he was quickly quickly given grief But Johnson quickly quickly made his mark Not only did he he he become a a a a a a a a a a regular for for King Country but he he also turned out for for New Zealand Colts in in in what what is one of rugby’s most famed “what if” tales “I “I was only 19 ” explains Johnson “I’d just come out of age-grade England rugby I’d I’d played a a a a a a a a few Leicester rst
PROFILE
JOHNSON’S JOURNEY