Johnson calls on England to repeat heroics in Rome
Monday February 08 2010
Martin Johnson warned his England's players that their 30-17 victory over Wales on Saturday will be wasted unless they back it up with a win against Italy in Rome on Valentine's Day.
England ended a run of three straight Six Nations defeats against the Welsh with a hat-trick of well-taken tries and a performance of determination, defiance and some good fortune.
Wales had rallied from 20-3 down to within three points when Delon Armitage intercepted and Mathew Tait created a second try of the game for James Haskell with a sublime run and pass.
"It is great they have got the result we have worked so hard for -- but if we want to make it into a great win we have to perform next week in Rome," said Johnson.
Chris Cusiter, meanwhile, insists Scotland have not gone backwards since the autumn internationals despite suffering a dispiriting defeat by France in their Six Nations opener.
Centre Mathieu Bastareaud scored his first two Test tries on his comeback -- after his New Zealand incident last summer -- to help pre-tournament favourites France wrap up a somewhat laboured 18-9 win at Murrayfield.
"It's not a step back," Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Cusiter said.
"We've got a lot to work on but we've certainly got a lot to build on."
- Alex Lowe
