Johnson: we must channel frustration against the Scots

MARTIN JOHNSON has urged England to unleash two weeks of hurt on Scotland at Murrayfield — and prove they have learned how to win big matches in the most volatile surroundings.

England’s Grand Slam ambitions were crushed by Ireland a fortnight ago after Tommy Bowe scored the match-winning try just five minutes from time.

In a deathly-quiet Twickenham changing room immediately after the game, Johnson told his players to bottle those emotions of anger and frustration and carry it with them to Edinburgh.

England have struggled in the hostile Murrayfield environment in recent years, losing on each of their last two visits without scoring a try.

“We only had ourselves to blame for the defeat to Ireland. To say we have to improve sounds insignificant, we have to find a way of winning Test matches,” said Johnson.

“You don’t like to lose but that is part of the team’s experience now. We will be better for the Ireland game. To sit in a losing dressing room after a Test match is not what you do it for, is it?

“It will be a tough Saturday evening if we lose up there. A team needs to have that conscience and that response and think ‘right, we are not going to be sat there again’.

“The mindset has to be right tomorrow. We are going away from home. You have got to enjoy that challenge in playing in volatile situations because that is what you get into it for.

“Going away from home and trying to silence hostile crowds is what it is all about. It is like any away ground, the opposition will raise themselves.”

Conversely, Andy Robinson insisted he would have no problem encouraging his Scotland players to use anti-English sentiment as motivation for today’s Calcutta Cup clash.

Robinson takes on the country of his birth — and the team he both played for and coached — for the first time this weekend in a game his new side must win to stand a realistic chance of avoiding the RBS Six Nations wooden spoon.

Despite being “proud” of his English heritage, the 45-year-old is determined to do whatever it takes to land an elusive first championship victory since taking charge.

And that includes allowing his players to express nationalist sentiment in the dressing room before the game.

“If they have that feeling, then that’s great,” Robinson said.

“There are a number of drivers that you have, emotional drivers going into games. It’s important that we use every aspect.

“The crowd getting behind the team before the 5pm kick-off and throughout the game will give the team a huge lift.

“We need every ounce tomorrow to beat a very good England side. They’ve won two games and could’ve won that third game. They’re already talking, saying they can do something special.

“We’ve got to be able to stand toe-to-toe with England.”