Johnson says Ireland players most ‘street-wise’ in the game

MARTIN JOHNSON has described Ireland’s rugby players as amongst the most street-wise in the game after England’s humbling experience at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday.

Johnson’s heavyweights failed to land a punch, he admitted, as he hailed an Irish side that won the physical and psychological battles to record an unexpectedly convincing win over the Grand Slam seekers.

“On the cusp of a Grand Slam, we knew what it meant, but we got beaten. If it was a fight you would like to think you would land a few (punches) but we didn’t feel we landed any. Ireland played very well, we had a horrible first-half and did all the things you don’t need to do when you’re playing away from home against this sort of team in this sort of game.