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Johnson wants England to 'let Scotland have it'

Article Published: Friday 12 March 2010

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England coach Martin Johnson has told his players to take out their frustrations on Scotland in Saturday's crucial Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.

Johnson's side are back in action this weekend for the first time since being beaten by Ireland a fortnight ago.

England have lost on their last two visits to Murrayfield, without scoring a try on each occasion, and Johnson knows the struggling Scots will be desperate to inflict another embarrassing defeat on the old enemy.

But the bitter memories of that Ireland loss still linger for Johnson and he wants a reaction in Edinburgh as England try to keep their Six Nations title challenge alive.

"We only had ourselves to blame for the defeat to Ireland. To say we have to improve sounds insignificant, we have to find a way of winning Test matches," Johnson said on Friday.

"You don't like to lose but that is part of the team's experience now. We will be better for the Ireland game. To sit in a losing dressing room after a Test match is not what you do it for, is it?

"It will be a tough Saturday evening if we lose up there. A team needs to have that conscience and that response and think 'right, we are not going to be sat there again'.

"The mindset has to be right tomorrow. We are going away from home. You have got to enjoy that challenge in playing in volatile situations because that is what you get into it for.

"Going away from home and trying to silence hostile crowds is what it is all about. It is like any away ground, the opposition will raise themselves.

"A lot of rugby is about energy, urgency, passion and emotion and we can't come second in that area. Then it comes down to execution and tactical thinking.

"That is the challenge whenever you go away from home, wherever it is.

"In the Six Nations all these games have their own history and the countries have their own history which makes it fun."

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