Johnson eager to renew rivalry with Wallabies

MARTIN JOHNSON fired a warning to Australia that England will head Down Under next month with the strongest touring team since he lifted the Rugby World Cup on their shores in 2003.

Team manager Johnson is relishing the chance to stoke up old rivalries and return to the scene of his finest hour, when England defeated the Wallabies in Sydney to be crowned world champions.

Steve Borthwick, Louis Deacon, Phil Vickery, Andrew Sheridan, Riki Flutey and Tom Rees will all miss the five-match tour for a variety of injury-related reasons.