Johnson: time to end All Blacks hurt

MARTIN JOHNSON insisted the time has come for England to end seven years of hurt against New Zealand.

Johnson was captain the last time England downed the All Blacks — 15-13 in driving Wellington rain on the pre-World Cup tour of 2003 — they have lost eight on the bounce since. New Zealand arrive at Twickenham as the world’s number one side but they had a 15-Test unbeaten run ended by Australia in Hong Kong last weekend. But Johnson knows England will need to produce their best performance of his two-year regime if they are to topple the Tri Nations champs.

Johnson said: “ They don’t like losing to England. We know it is going to be a real battle. We will get physically and mentally tested.