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By Sarah Holt
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 Underwood played with Johnson with Leicester and England
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Former England winger Rory Underwood believes manager Martin Johnson is the right man to lead the team to the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
England won only two of five games in the 2010 Six Nations, while question marks have been raised over Johnson and his coaching staff's credentials.
But Underwood told BBC Sport: "I would stick with him until the World Cup.
"Hopefully we'll get things sorted out over the next 18 months and move in the right direction."
Johnson was criticised for a perceived lack of attacking flair during the Six Nations, scoring just six tries in five matches as they finished third in the tournament.
However, the 2003 world champions showed glimpses of promise in the 12-10 defeat by Grand Slam champions France in Paris two weeks ago, with Northampton full-back Ben Foden and winger Chris Ashton impressing in a more expansive display.
And Underwood believes former Leicester team-mate Johnson should opt for youth in his touring squad to Australia in June.
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If you keep changing the manager every couple of years you get no stability and things just will not build
Rory Underwood
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"I'm hoping they start picking some new blood, young blood as we did during the France game," said Underwood, who scored a record 49 tries in 85 appearances for England during his 12-year Test career between 1984 and 1996.
"Once the team beds in with some youngsters, the standard of rugby should get better and it will be more enjoyable to watch England play."
Despite winning only eight games out of 19 since taking charge of England in the summer of 2008, Johnson has received public backing from the Rugby Football Union to lead the team to New Zealand next year.
However, his coaching team have come under more scrutiny, with several ex-England internationals questioning the roles of John Wells (forwards), Brian Smith (attack), Mike Ford (defence) and Graham Rowntree (scrum).
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"The big question mark was that he [Johnson] has no experience at international level, so there are lots of question marks aimed at him and his coaching staff - has he got the right people around him?" added former RAF pilot Underwood, now a non-executive director at Leicester.
"It's a big challenge for him but he's had plenty of those over the years.
"He has been in the job two years; is that enough time for him to go? I've always believed when he was picked that you should leave him in there, let him go to the World Cup and then decide if you are going to keep him on or change him.
"If you keep changing the manager every couple of years you get no stability and things just will not build. I'd keep Johnno, plug away for the World Cup and see what happens over the next 18 months."
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