Johnson captained England to 2003 World Cup glory

New England team manager Martin Johnson admits he is "keen to get on with the job" of reviving the national team.

The former England and Leicester captain, 38, was appointed on 16 April but will not start until 1 July.

He told BBC Radio Leicester: "It is just sinking in really. There is a huge amount of responsibility and it needs to be done well.

"I am looking forward to it but there is no point in patting yourself on the back before you have done anything."

Johnson was speaking at the opening of the Samworth Enterprise Academy in Leicester on Thursday.

He will help select the squad for England's Twickenham date with the Barbarians on 1 June and the two-Test tour of New Zealand that follows, although will not travel with the squad because his wife Kay is expecting their second child.

The World Cup-winning skipper has signed a contract until the end of 2011 and will have full control of team selection and the appointment of the coaching team.