Six Nations - Johnno: England must snarl

Eurosport - Wed, 11 Feb 12:03:00 2009

Martin Johnson has challenged England's underdogs to prove they have the bite and snarl to tame Wales in their own back yard.

RUGBY Martin Johnson England coach 2008 - 0

England head to Cardiff on the back of a laboured and uninspiring 36-11 victory over Italy while Wales have soared into the top four of the world rankings after an emphatic win in Scotland.

England's performance against the Azzurri was several leagues below those produced by Ireland in their victory over France and Wales at Murrayfield.

Johnson (pictured) has turned to the fit-again Mike Tindall in midfield and Joe Worsley to provide a physical presence at open-side to counter Wales' mobile back row.

And he has called on England to start bearing their teeth and hunt down the title favourites.

"There has always been a big feeling down in Cardiff that they want to beat England," said Johnson.

"There will be passion. The Welsh enjoy having a successful rugby team and they are playing some attractive rugby so it will be doubly difficult.

"We don't have that much expectation on us and we need to go there and fight. We can also play but we need to battle and quieten the crowd down.

"Being underdogs is always the easier mindset to get into. We won the last game and I would like to keep our fortunes heading in the same direction.

"We know as a squad we can play better than we did last week. It is about improving.

"It will be a big challenge going down there. Wales are a very confident team, very skilful, they want to play the game at a high tempo.

"They scrummaged very well against Scotland, their lineout was pretty good. They are a strong side and that is why they have got the results they have in the last year. They have confidence and momentum and we need to stop that."

Worsley's last start for England against Wales at the Millennium Stadium lasted all of 39 seconds before he was knocked out by a flying boot.

This will be Worsley's 69th cap, although 24 of them have come as replacement, and his last start for his country was in the 2007 World Cup against Samoa.

The Wasps flanker will be hoping to make more of an impact on Saturday when he replaces Steffon Armitage on the open-side as England opt for a beefier physical presence to combat the threat of Wales' key player Martyn Williams.

"The last time I played for England in Cardiff I remember the anthem and the kick-off ... then I remember waking up in the stand," Worsley recalled.

"I tried to carry on but I only know that from watching the video. I was like Bambi on ice.

"I have had my injury problems but I have made big strides during this season and I'm getting into good form again.

"It will be difficult. Martyn Williams is a fantastic player and it is a big ask. We're all aware we will have to play a hell of a lot better to have a chance this weekend.

"Desire to win is why people play at this level, and I have been like that - regardless of whether we were favourites or going down to Cardiff as we are now. I go out and play the same."

SportingLife / Eurosport

Comment 25 - 44 of 44

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  1. Martin Johnson's job is to keep the team motivated.­ However he does that does not matter. Wales are playing­ blinding rugby but New Zealand stopped them in their­ tracks. The question is how is England going to pull­ off the same? Going on our recent performances we have­ not got a hope in hell. I think we have to acknowledge­ Wales are somewhere like England were before the 2003­ WC ,except they need to start beating the SH teams (not­ just Aus who are not at their strongest by any means)­ and they need to start beating them away from home.­ This will be good for Rugby as it will stop the SH­ teams bleating how superior they are etc. I dont know­ about anyone else but I love to see good rugby wherever­ it comes from. I would love to see the NH teams though­ hitting their straps. The likes of Ireland, Wales,­ England and France should be competing very closely­ with NZ, Aus and SA and Argentina. I believe Scotland­ are quietly also coming back to a strong team they once­ were. So lets get behind the 6 nations and hope it is a­ closely fought contest for the good of the NH and Rugby­ in general.

    From First, on Thu 12 Feb 2:26PM

  2. Lee: quite right. Just put it down to the ignorance of­ the England supporters on here.

    From Gez, on Thu 12 Feb 11:22AM

  3. It confuses me as to the why there is this fixation on­ how many Ospreys are in the Welsh team?? Gethin­ Jenkins,Martyn Williams, Dafydd Jones,Andy Powell,­ Stephen Jones, Jamie Roberts,Tom Shanklin,Lee Halfpenny­ all played for Wales last Sunday...-none of them play­ for the Ospreys?!?!...Go figure.

    From Lee R, on Thu 12 Feb 11:12AM

  4. Remind me: which particular toys are you referring to?­ Happy to engage you in your wit, just having difficulty­ finding it right now...

    From Gez, on Wed 11 Feb 3:15PM

  5. wouldnt bother myself getting into a battle of wits­ with someone who is unarmed Gez - you left yesterday­ after collecting up your toys so dont see the point in­ going over the same ground again

    From David, on Wed 11 Feb 2:56PM

  6. Just a shame you don't exercise them, then, Dave...

    From Gez, on Wed 11 Feb 2:38PM

  7. 'least we have brains to start with Gez :-)

    From David, on Wed 11 Feb 2:35PM

  8. Get over it? Are you kidding? I think it's­ brilliant that they are so appallingly bad!

    :o)

    From Gez, on Wed 11 Feb 2:35PM

  9. england played poorly get over it! its a six nations­ championship so wat about the other five??

    From blueforlife, on Wed 11 Feb 2:31PM

  10. Judging by recent performances and selections, it is­ clear that Englishmen's brains are kept firmly up­ their ar*es

    From Gez, on Wed 11 Feb 2:18PM

  11. oh dear!!!

    From Stuart D, on Wed 11 Feb 2:03PM

  12. I can't imagine what I have said until now that has­ got to you? Is it that I said - (read my posts those­ that have the ability to - the others of you get your­ mothers), that Wales are playing great rugby. Or was it­ that i pointed out that I didn't call the Welsh or­ their players egotistical? Or perhaps that the England­ team have to do better.

    Which all goes to show that a­ Welshmans Brains are only on the front of his replica­ shirt

    From ad_rogers, on Wed 11 Feb 1:56PM

  13. Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau

    Mae hen wlad fy nhadau yn­ annwyl i mi,
    Gwlad beirdd a chantorion, enwogion o­ fri;
    Ei gwrol ryfelwyr, gwladgarwyr tra mâd,
    Tros­ ryddid gollasant eu gwaed.

    Gwlad, Gwlad, pleidiol wyf­ i'm gwlad.
    Tra môr yn fur i'r bur hoff bau,
    O­ bydded i'r hen iaith barhau.

    Hen Gymru fynyddig,­ paradwys y bardd,
    Pob dyffryn, pob clogwyn i'm­ golwg sydd hardd;
    Trwy deimlad gwladgarol, mor swynol­ yw si
    Ei nentydd, afonydd i mi.

    Os treisiodd y gelyn­ fy ngwald tan ei droed,
    Mae hen iaith y Cymry mor fyw­ ac erioed,
    Ni luddiwyd yr awen gan erchyll law brad,­
    Na thelyn berseiniol fy ngwlad.

    From Stuart D, on Wed 11 Feb 1:45PM

  14. dave 28 & quoling not to mention ad_rogers what­ prats you all are, no wonder the english are hated

    From p.lloyd142, on Wed 11 Feb 1:35PM

  15. Clearly, it still rankles with you one-eyed Chariots­ that you were beaten by a Regional team. Kind of puts­ into perspective where you now are in World Rugby­ terms, huh?

    From Gez, on Wed 11 Feb 1:34PM

  16. Dave - your comment about Henson are you sure?

    From Stuart D, on Wed 11 Feb 1:27PM

  17. Are the English fans not passionate? with regards to­ the singing it all helps to beat other teams.

    From Stuart D, on Wed 11 Feb 1:25PM

  18. Wales will hurt us physically and mentally, presumably­ with their god awful singing and that coke snorting,­ pill popping, warbling bint Katherine Jenkins. At least­ have Charlotte Church do it as she has a nice pair of­ ti ts - 3 of them if you include Henson ;-)

    From David, on Wed 11 Feb 1:18PM

  19. All I can say is I hope that all the so called­ passionate Welsh are left very quiet come Saturday­ night..over confidence can destoy a team and­ nation.

    As for the comment about a club team -­ isn't that what Wales are? - one of these days the­ rules will be changed to have a maximum amount of­ players from one club..or if not why not start a new­ club containing only international players - ok they­ won't win the premership but at least they can play­ in the same team all season. It's no wonder Wales­ are doing well when so many players come from the same­ club...is it the Osprey's or Wales playing?

    From quoling, on Wed 11 Feb 1:15PM

  20. I will give you 12 points and Wales will have over 30­ points.

    From Stuart D, on Wed 11 Feb 1:13PM
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