Tournament hosts England face Fiji, a side with a reputation for raising their game at World Cups, two-time champions Australia and familiar foes Wales on consecutive weekends in Pool A.
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The introduction of the technology on a trial basis – one of a number of new measures being tested ahead of this autumn’s Rugby World Cup – will also be used to provide additional assistance to the television match official (TMO) in taking decisions over contentious scores.
Despite having a tough route through to the last eight, Johnson believes that England can benefit from the challenge.
Johnson, whose spell as England coach ended with their meek quarter-final loss to France in the 2011 World Cup, is confident that England will not suffer the ignominy of going out before the knockout stage for the first time.
“Whoever loses England versus Wales, their next game becomes a must-win”.
A four to five week spell of rehabilitation back in New Zealand whilst his countrymen competed at World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2015 appears to have done the trick, and the 125kg wing, often compared to Jonah Lomu in his pomp for his sheer pace and power, is now looking forward to having the chance to fulfil his Rugby World Cup dream.
“It is a wonderful opportunity for this group of players which they will not get again”.
Johnson, captain of the England team that won the 2003 World Cup following a 20-17 victory over the Wallabies in the Sydney final, views them as the most risky team on the global stage.
Thierry Dusautoir believes the fixture is steeped in importance and feels it will be a great moment for both teams, “Of course next time we meet, for this hundredth match between the two countries, it is going to be very special because we will continue the heritage, the tradition of France, England”.
“Australia can be utterly lethal when it comes to scoring tries out of situations where there’s nothing on, more so any other team in the world”, Johnson said.
“The manner in which they’re doing it – their set-piece and their breakdown work – they’ve raised the bar for the rest of us”, Rowntree told BBC 5 live.
“Two World Cup finals and a 1999 semi-final were won by drop goals in extra time so you have to have it in your armoury – and the referee was never going to give us a penalty in that 2003 final”.
“If England go behind against Fiji, the crowd gets a bit nervous and the players get nervous, you have to keep your head and keep playing”.
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“It starts from the first kick off in England’s pool because there’s no room for manoeuvre, you must hit the ground running”.
