Johnson wary of Scots
February 28, 2001

England captain Martin Johnson has warned his team to expect a major Six Nations Championship challenge from Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday.

Johnson missed last season's shock 19-13 defeat in Edinburgh through injury, when the Scots wrecked English grand slam hopes.

Although he is now back at the helm of an England side unbeaten for six Tests, Johnson believes Scotland will pose a major threat despite not having won at Twickenham since 1983.

He said: "I really believe that Scotland are an under-estimated team. They work hard, especially their forwards, and they are very dangerous. With players like Scott Murray and Richard Metcalfe, they are very mobile.

"Scotland will not just put on a dogged display with an aim to spoil, they will really test our defence and push us."

England are hell-bent on avoiding a repeat of 10 months ago, when Scotland coach Ian McGeechan tactically outwitted his England counterpart Clive Woodward and Duncan Hodge scored all 19 points for a famous win in appalling conditions.

"The influence of Ian McGeechan is always a big factor. He knows a lot about England players, having worked with so many of them in the past," said Johnson.

"But at the end of the day it is about 30 guys on the field who can impose themselves on the game the most.

"What we did in Cardiff against Wales earlier this month wasn't rocket science, we just executed the game very well, and against Italy we exploited their mistakes.

"Scotland's win against us last year was not just about their coach. They played well, mastered the conditions and looked like the team to win the game, which they did."

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