'Hell of a game' awaits Johnson in rugby group clash

Published on Tuesday 2 December 2008 09:13

ENGLAND manager Martin Johnson predicted a "hell of a game" against Scotland when the two old enemies meet in the group stages.

England's potential quarter-final opponents will come from Pool A and are almost certain to be either New Zealand or France.

It is hard enough for Johnson, as pragmatic a coach as they come, to consider what might happen three years hence, never mind predict potential knock-out opponents.

But he knows England's second World Cup encounter with Scotland – the first was a 9-6 victory in the 1991 semi-final – will be a seismic occasion.

"Playing Scotland in the World Cup will be a hell of a game, with huge passion. We haven't played them in a World Cup since 1991. That was a tight game," he said.

Johnson refused to buy into the theory that England had escaped lightly in yesterday's draw just because they avoided Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.

"Scotland were quarter-finalists last year, we finished second and Argentina finished third," said Johnson.