Further improvement needed, insists Johnson

MARTIN JOHNSON has warned his England players that their heroics against Australia last week could easily be forgotten in today’s “instant society” should they not follow up their win with victory over Samoa.

The identity of Johnson’s England — both in terms of personnel and style of play — is finally beginning to take shape but the England coach has spent the week playing down the notion his squad has finally achieved its breakthrough victory.

“We are completely aware of what it can do to a team if you get ahead of yourselves,” Johnson said. “The world is so volatile. Some of the stuff I’ve had to deal with this week... we’ve won a game and played well. But it’s one game, so calm down. We have to back it up through this series and through the Six Nations.