Johnson stays focused

ENGLAND skipper Martin Johnson has brushed off taunts from South African counterpart Corne Krige branding him one of the “dirtiest captains in world rugby”, saying his only focus was beating rivals on the pitch.

“I’m not going to respond to it, I’m just going to play the game and enjoy the tournament,” Johnson said when asked about comments by Krige and Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli ahead of the teams’ World Cup clash on October 18.

In a South African newspaper interview earlier this month, Krige made his “dirtiest captain” remark with Straeuli then adding that Krige’s chequered disciplinary record compared favourably with Johnson’s.

“Look, maybe you should just go look at the records of the two guys in club and provincial games and then tell me who’s been yellow-carded and off the field the most,” Straeuli said, referring to Johnson’s disciplinary problems.

Pressed on Thursday as to whether he felt the Springoks were trying to stir up trouble ahead of the two teams’ much anticipated meeting, Johnson refused to be drawn.

“You can get involved in slanging matches or you can prepare for our first game and personally I’m enjoying being in Perth and looking forward to the first game,” he said.

“I haven’t got the enthusiasm to get involved with that rubbish, it’s as simple as that.”

Johnson and Krige were due to meet up later Thursday at a welcome ceremony for the World Cup teams in Perth, but he said the issue of the South African’s comments would not come up.

“It’s not really on my radar screen at all,” he said.

Johnson also said injuries suffered in training this week by scrum-half Matt Dawson and reserve full-back Iain Balshaw were minor. After they pair missed a training session on Wednesday, he indicated the pair would be fit and ready for Saturday’s Group C opener against Georgia.

Balshaw again skipped Thursday’s session, but Dawson took part.

Johnson reiterated that England were not taking the opening match lightly, saying he had watched tapes of Georgia matches and was “very impressed” with their level or play.