Johnson's familiar foes on the horizon

England team manager Martin Johnson speculated he may find it easier to show off his tactical prowess this week, as there is nothing mysterious about Australia as there was the Pacific Islanders on Saturday.

England team manager Martin Johnson speculated he may find it easier to show off his tactical prowess this week, as there is nothing mysterious about Australia as there was the Pacific Islanders on Saturday.

Johnson said that the familiarity would help his side against the team England have knocked out of the past two World Cups, even though the rugby Test may be a stiffer challenge.

“The Pacific Islanders were a dangerous team to play. I was asked if I'd considered losing to them, because they are dangerous,” he said after his side had beaten the Islands 39-13 in his first game in charge.

“It may be easier to play Australia than the Pacific Islanders, because we can have a good look at them and know what they're about, but the tempo and intensity next week will be higher.”

England were good enough in last Saturday's victory, but Johnson knows that the speed, intensity, and cleanness of execution will have to be improved this coming Saturday.

“I'm reasonably happy with that,” said Johnson.

“It was stop-start. That's understandable because this was our first match together and we were trying to put some things together.”

“We're in a pretty good place and we're looking forward to next week.”

Meanwhile, wing Paul Sackey also noted the need to build on Saturday's display rather than just to maintain it.

“We will have to step it up another gear,” said Wasps winger Sackey, who scored twice at Twickenham, the BBC.

“There's a lot more to do but if we can get it right it could be outstanding with all the talent we've got.

“It took a while for things to gel. The first half was quite slow but we were just trying to get into our rhythm.

“All over the park there were new combinations so we were never going to go out in the first half and be outstanding.”

Yet this team can go far, according to the winger who has now nabbed a superb 10 tries in 16 matches for England, scoring a brace yesterday on the back of an excellent performance by the back three, of which Sackey's two counterparts Delon Armitage and Ugo Monye were debutants.

“There's potential everywhere – not just in the back three,” he said.

“Danny Care and Danny Cipriani's partnership is going to be outstanding, and the locks as well.

“The future for English rugby is looking good.”