Johnson confident England won’t suffer Royal distraction

MARTIN JOHNSON insists England’s preparations for tomorrow’s clash with Romania will not be thrown off course by the arrival in Dunedin of Zara Phillips.

The British queen’s grand-daughter is due to watch husband Mike Tindall in action for the first time at the Rugby World Cup after flying into New Zealand.

Tindall has been at the centre of controversy since joining a group of team-mates on a night out drinking in Queenstown, two days after captaining England to a 13-9 victory over Argentina. Johnson yesterday blocked Tindall from answering some tough questions about the now infamous booze-up, insisting the whole issue had been “put to bed”.

Although players’ wives are welcome in the team hotel — Lewis Moody’s family flew in this week — Phillips’ anticipated presence will keep the story rumbling on.

But Johnson, having put a rocket up his under-performing stars following their victory over Georgia, is confident nothing will distract them.

“It’s not unusual. Players’ wives are often around before games so it’s not any big deal for this squad,” said Johnson. They are used to players’ wives coming in and she’s one of the players’ wives.

“She’s high-profile — but our guys train with Jonny Wilkinson every day and he’s pretty high-profile.”

Tindall is recalled to face Romania, while Mark Cueto takes over from Delon Armitage on the wing after shaking off a back problem while hooker Steve Thompson, prop Alex Corbisiero, lock Louis Deacon and flanker Tom Croft all come into the starting pack.

James Haskell continues at number eight in the injury-enforced absence of Nick Easter. Johnson is also without suspended lock Courtney Lawes, while prop Matt Stevens has been struggling with an ankle injury.

Meanwhile, France back row Julien Bonnaire has begun the mind games ahead tomorrow’s crucial World Cup clash with New Zealand by questioning whether the All Blacks will buckle beneath the weight of expectation.

Test rugby’s greatest team have dominated the game since the inception of the World Cup yet have won the tournament just once, the inaugural event in 1987.

With the 2011 competition being staged at home, the pressure is building like never before and Bonnaire is keen to inject doubt in their minds.

“The All Blacks know we are unpredictable, both in a good and a bad way actually. We can either fail or pull it off – and that is what they fear,” he said.

“Clearly there are high expectations from a whole nation who support them fully – perhaps too much even. We experienced that ourselves in 2007 in France.”

Elsewhere, Bryan Habana became South Africa’s record try scorer as the Springboks claimed a record World Cup win with a 12-try, 87-0 romp against Namibia in their Pool D meeting at North Harbour Stadium.

Winger Habana scored the second South Africa try to move beyond the mark of 38 he shared with 1995 World Cup winner Joost van der Westhuizen.

The only concern for South Africa was the sight of lock Bakkies Botha, who has struggled with an Achilles injury, limping off in the second half.