England legend Martin Johnson has had his say as Steve Borthwick’s aspect put together to tackle Wales of their Six Nations opener.
The BBC pundit admits Wales face one other robust marketing campaign (Picture: Getty Photographs)
England legend Martin Johnson believes Wales will present a more durable take a look at for Steve Borthwick’s group of their Six Nations curtain-raiser this weekend, regardless of being shocked by how they collapsed on the Principality Stadium final yr.
Steve Tandy’s squad journey to Twickenham on Saturday as overwhelming outsiders, having didn’t register a championship victory since March 2023 and claiming the Picket Spoon within the final two tournaments. In stark distinction, England come into the sport on an 11-match unbeaten run and are seen as the principle challengers to defending champions France for this yr’s crown. Wales and England met on the ultimate weekend of final yr’s championship in what ended up being one of many bleakest days in Welsh rugby historical past, as Borthwick’s aspect crossed for 10 tries on the Principality Stadium as they inflicted a report 68-14 humiliation on Wales.
Johnson was in Cardiff that afternoon on punditry duties for the BBC and admits that Wales’ destiny was sealed virtually instantly, with fellow pundit Sam Warburton left shocked when Maro Itoje registered the opening rating for the guests after merely three minutes. Nonetheless, in a dialog as a part of Greene King’s new ‘Followers Reunited’ initiative – which inspires patrons to reconnect with buddies by watching Six Nations matches at their pubs – the 2003 Rugby World Cup-winning captain stated that whereas he predicts an England victory, he’s anticipating a unique sort of match at Twickenham this weekend.
“I feel England will win, however that is not rocket science,” he stated. “Who would have thought it could have been the rating it was final yr in Cardiff? England scored after only a few minutes final yr, and much too simply.
“I bear in mind doing the TV and I appeared over at Sam Warburton and he was like, ‘Christ, you possibly can’t concede that easy a strive at that stage of the sport. That is a strive you concede within the final 4 minutes once you’ve already received the sport, not the primary 4 minutes.’
“The writing was on the wall very early final yr. Wales, clearly, have gotten to remain within the sport so long as they will, make it tough and provides themselves perception and hope and go from there. Typically, once you try this, you discover yourselves in a sport, then it is anybody’s.”
Johnson added: “Whereas I feel England will win, I do not suppose it will likely be as massive or as comfy as persons are making out. It is the primary sport of the event, Wales ought to be off their bins for that sport when it comes to getting caught in. They have nothing to lose.
“What in the event that they cost a kick down or intercept a cross? In the event that they get down there and rating and England are half-asleep and so they go 10-nil down after 20 minutes, they do not look so cool then.
“It is not exterior the realm of risk that Wales may put in a extremely good efficiency and make it robust. I feel they may make it loads more durable than persons are anticipating, to be trustworthy.”
While he would not consider Wales will endure the identical humiliation they skilled at dwelling to England final March – one thing which he says English supporters took no pleasure in witnessing – Johnson anticipates one other difficult marketing campaign for Tandy’s aspect, with a shortened competitors set to go away them at an obstacle.
The previous England captain admits Wales may “make it robust” (Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Media Assignments)
“It should be a troublesome event for them, I feel, it is 5 video games in six weeks,” stated the 55-year-old. “It should be attritional, squad depth might be extra essential on this event than ever earlier than. In case you begin selecting up accidents and losses, then it may get robust, however then that is the identical for anybody.
“I do not suppose any English followers in Cardiff final yr took any enjoyment of that efficiency and successful like that,” he added. “It is attention-grabbing, I have been doing TV work for six and 7 years and it looks like yearly the Welsh followers are like, ‘Oh, we’re not going to be excellent this yr.’
“In some way for 3 or 4 years of that, they have been, they performed properly and received the Grand Slam in 2019 and one other title in 2021. Numerous the outdated guard have been enjoying properly and nonetheless getting rolled out, and that simply appears to have ended multi function go.
“It is left a squad with not an enormous quantity of expertise in there, in all probability wanting world-class gamers and you have got quite a lot of younger guys in there thrown in, looking for their approach, which is tough.”
Wales have been afforded nearly no prospect of launching their new Six Nations marketing campaign with a victory this weekend, with England not solely overwhelming favourites for Saturday’s encounter, however backed to compete for his or her first championship since 2020.
Whereas such a label is hardly stunning, Johnson stays cautious concerning the burden of expectation on Borthwick’s aspect and insists a powerful begin is required this weekend to point out they will deal with the strain.
“You hear a lot of issues in tournaments that you have to set your stall out,” he stated. “Simply go on the market and get the sport received, then go from there.
“Earlier than the event, everyone seems to be making their predictions and everybody thinks England are going to win this sport comfortably, I at all times fear when folks suppose like that. That is the overriding thought, as a result of that is the place you get your self into bother.
“I feel there’s extra expectation on England and that is what I am nervous about. They have to cope with that. If they do not beat Wales comfortably or folks criticise the efficiency, [the expectation] would not at all times ring true.
“Good groups play properly,” Johnson added. “It would not matter who the opposition is, you go on the market, hit your normal of efficiency and go from there. That is what England must do.”
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