BAGSHOT, England (AFP) – Martin Johnson has urged his players to embrace "the most hostile atmosphere in the Six Nations for an Englishman" when they begin their quest to win the tournament away to Wales on Friday.England's last three visits to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium have all ended in defeat and another reverse will deal a major blow to their hopes of winning a first Six Nations title since the Grand Slam in 2003 -- when team manager Johnson was captain of a side that also lifted the World Cup later that year."The Millennium is a great place to play, the stadium being in the middle of Cardiff, and it's the most hostile in the Six Nations for an Englishman," Johnson told reporters at the squad's training base here on Monday.Johnson said he wanted his men to feed off the anti-English sentiment that is never far from the surface when the men in white shirts arrive in Wales."Being an Englishman in Cardiff on that weekend means you aren't the most popular, which is great. I'd rather have that than polite indifference," the former lock added."They (Wales) want to beat England at rugby -- that is not a secret and we want to win down there. It is a good occasion. We have to be ready when we do go and play. You want to play in the big games."Not since Johnson was captain have England won in the Welsh capital and up to a third of the side, including Ben Foden, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole, are in line to be playing their first Test at the Millennium Stadium."It is a great occasion for an Englishman to go to Cardiff and play," said Johnson, aiming to lead England to a third successive World Cup final in New Zealand later this year."The opening game of the tournament in a World Cup year adds something."You have to enjoy it. You want to play in the big games. We have to be ready," Johnson insisted.Northampton wing Chris Ashton, who also is in line to play his first Test in Cardiff, said it was the prospect of matches such as Friday's clash between two of rugby union's oldest rivals that persuaded him to switch from rugby league back in 2007."It was a massive part of it," Ashton explained."This doesn't happen in rugby league, you don't get these kind of games. It's massively exciting, I can't wait," added Ashton, whose dramatic length of the field try against Australia at Twickenham in November was named Monday as the International Rugby Players' Association's try of the year for 2010.New Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive John Steele has effectively set England a target -- or "realistic expectation" -- of a top-two finish in the Six Nations.England's failure to win the Championship since 2003 has rankled their fans and delighted their opponents as, with the exception of title-holders France, no other European nation can match their playing resources"In that time (since England won it last) not many favourites have gone on to win it," Johnson reflected."In 2003 the opening game was England v France and everyone said it was the only game in town -- why are you playing it first?"But we ended up with a grand slam decider in the final game. Wales twice and Ireland once have won the grand slam since then, as have France."The field has come together quite a bit and Scotland are in the mix. In terms of picking a favourite right now -- who knows?"England, in the absence of injured flanker Lewis Moody, are set to be captained by Mike Tindall although Johnson will not confirm either his skipper or his side until Wednesday's team announcement.Tindall's thigh problem forced him to return home early from last week's training camp in Portugal but the World Cup winning centre resumed training Monday and is expected to be fit to face Wales.Lectric Lady .Minuit .Seduction .Oh What A Night .Volume 1
Johnson tells England to relish 'hostile' Cardiff
BAGSHOT, England (AFP) – Martin Johnson has urged his players to embrace "the most hostile atmosphere in the Six Nations for an Englishman" when they begin their quest to win the tournament away to Wales on Friday.England's last three visits to Cardiff's Millennium Stadium have all ended in defeat and another reverse will deal a major blow to their hopes of winning a first Six Nations title since the Grand Slam in 2003 -- when team manager Johnson was captain of a side that also lifted the World Cup later that year."The Millennium is a great place to play, the stadium being in the middle of Cardiff, and it's the most hostile in the Six Nations for an Englishman," Johnson told reporters at the squad's training base here on Monday.Johnson said he wanted his men to feed off the anti-English sentiment that is never far from the surface when the men in white shirts arrive in Wales."Being an Englishman in Cardiff on that weekend means you aren't the most popular, which is great. I'd rather have that than polite indifference," the former lock added."They (Wales) want to beat England at rugby -- that is not a secret and we want to win down there. It is a good occasion. We have to be ready when we do go and play. You want to play in the big games."Not since Johnson was captain have England won in the Welsh capital and up to a third of the side, including Ben Foden, Ben Youngs and Dan Cole, are in line to be playing their first Test at the Millennium Stadium."It is a great occasion for an Englishman to go to Cardiff and play," said Johnson, aiming to lead England to a third successive World Cup final in New Zealand later this year."The opening game of the tournament in a World Cup year adds something."You have to enjoy it. You want to play in the big games. We have to be ready," Johnson insisted.Northampton wing Chris Ashton, who also is in line to play his first Test in Cardiff, said it was the prospect of matches such as Friday's clash between two of rugby union's oldest rivals that persuaded him to switch from rugby league back in 2007."It was a massive part of it," Ashton explained."This doesn't happen in rugby league, you don't get these kind of games. It's massively exciting, I can't wait," added Ashton, whose dramatic length of the field try against Australia at Twickenham in November was named Monday as the International Rugby Players' Association's try of the year for 2010.New Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive John Steele has effectively set England a target -- or "realistic expectation" -- of a top-two finish in the Six Nations.England's failure to win the Championship since 2003 has rankled their fans and delighted their opponents as, with the exception of title-holders France, no other European nation can match their playing resources"In that time (since England won it last) not many favourites have gone on to win it," Johnson reflected."In 2003 the opening game was England v France and everyone said it was the only game in town -- why are you playing it first?"But we ended up with a grand slam decider in the final game. Wales twice and Ireland once have won the grand slam since then, as have France."The field has come together quite a bit and Scotland are in the mix. In terms of picking a favourite right now -- who knows?"England, in the absence of injured flanker Lewis Moody, are set to be captained by Mike Tindall although Johnson will not confirm either his skipper or his side until Wednesday's team announcement.Tindall's thigh problem forced him to return home early from last week's training camp in Portugal but the World Cup winning centre resumed training Monday and is expected to be fit to face Wales.Lectric Lady .Minuit .Seduction .Oh What A Night .Volume 1