Johnson dismisses club failures ahead of Six Nations

Johnson says the failure of English clubs will have little bearing on England's prospects (GETTY IMAGES)

Martin Johnson warned against writing off England's RBS 6 Nations title chances just because English clubs have struggled in Europe this season.

Northampton are the only one from seven Guinness Premiership clubs to have qualified for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup.

But Johnson insisted there is no correlation between that disappointment and England's ambitions of winning their first championship title since 2003.

"In an ideal world we'd have three or four teams there (in the quarter-finals) because it is good for the players, but we haven't," Johnson said at today's competition launch in London.

"Some guys have come into camp disappointed from the weekend but they get into England mode very quickly and they are happy to be back together as a group.

"Last year the French clubs didn't have a particularly good time of it in Europe but the Six Nations games were very close. This year they will be very close.

"Last year we lost to Ireland and Wales by a combined total of nine points. Scotland were very competitive last year and they will be a better side this year.

"It will be just as tight this year. Anyone who predicts who will win the title is a brave guy."

England finished strongly with victories over France and Scotland to finish second in last year's Six Nations before enduring a miserable, injury-hit autumn campaign.

England's performances against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand were heavily criticised for being toothless and laboured.

Johnson admitted the coaching had been "over-prescriptive" and his efforts to sharpen England's attacking edge have been boosted by the return of key players.

Delon Armitage, Riki Flutey and Toby Flood have all recovered from injury while Johnson has promoted promising youngsters Courtney Lawes, Dan Cole, Matt Mullan and Ben Foden into the squad.

Johnson believes he is developing competition for places which is vital leading into the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

"The next World Cup is 18 months away and we are building a good squad," he said.

"We are starting to add a bit of depth to our group, more than ever before. There is competition throughout and that is what you need.

"This is the best squad we have had in my time being in charge and it will only get stronger.

"We have a good leadership group and it's the strength of any side that you have three, four or five guys who could be captain.

"With guys like Jonny Wilkinson, Lewis Moody, Nick Easter and Simon Shaw we are starting to have a core group of leaders."

England open their campaign against Wales at Twickenham on February 6.

Brian O'Driscoll ruled out a tactical rethink as Ireland attempt to defend their Grand Slam title.

The Irish stormed to only the second clean sweep in their history last year and are in the rare position of being the championship's prized scalp.

Head coach Declan Kidney masterminded the RBS 6 Nations triumph in only his first season in charge and O'Driscoll admitted they will not be tinkering with that winning formula.

"There will be no change of emphasis," said the Lions and Leinster skipper.

"I was once told you don't ever defend anything, you just role up your sleeves and try to win it again.

"It will be the same attitude that we've had for the past 10 years.

"You try and build into a competition, you don't win it in the first couple of weeks. That's how you lose it.

"We'll build slowly and go from there - or even better build fast and go from there."

O'Driscoll will be competing in his eighth Six Nations as captain yet the 31-year-old remains as motivated as ever.

"Definitely I'm as hungry as ever, if not hungrier," he said.

"Certainly after winning silverware your ambition doesn't wane in any way shape or form. If anything it heightens it.

"It gives you a taste and appetite for silverware and you want more."

Scotland coach Andy Robinson urged his men to "inspire the nation" once again by carrying the courage and commitment of their 9-8 autumn victory over Australia into the Six Nations.

The former England head coach made an immediate impact after taking charge at Murrayfield, leading Scotland to a first victory over the Wallabies in 27 years with a heroic defensive effort.

Robinson has cranked up the intensity in training and challenged Scotland to continue producing those passionate performances - starting against France at Murrayfield.

"This is a warrior sport and you are searching for the toughest competitors that will put their bodies on the line. You saw that after the Australia game. The players, in winning the game 9-8, inspired the nation," said Robinson.

"The guys understand what it means. The courage they showed that day in putting their bodies on the line was fantastic.

"We want Murrayfield to be an intimidating place to play.

"What we have at the moment is competition for places and that was borne out on Tuesday with a training session that was very lively.

"There are guys that are really pushing to be in that starting XV. That is what raises the standards.

"The preparation over the next two weeks is not about wrapping guys in cotton wool, it is about preparing to perform in an international game that is going to be very physical, very intimidating and will put the guys under massive pressure.

"That is the way we are training at times, putting everybody under pressure so we can make decisions in that environment."

Robinson played down the game on March 13 when he will lead Scotland against England - and instead set his men a series of challenges for the championship.

"The important thing for us is to focus on the first game against France. In the last couple of years we have lost that first game and we need to get a foothold in the tournament," he said.

"It is also about putting back-to-back wins together and that means winning away from home."

Warren Gatland believes Wales will go into their Six Nations campaign accompanied by a "feelgood factor".

While England's top clubs completed a miserable European campaign with only one of seven teams - Northampton - reaching the Heineken Cup quarter-finals, Welsh sides enjoyed an impressive pool stage finale.

The Ospreys' victory over Leicester confirmed a last-eight Heineken place, while both the Scarlets and Cardiff Blues booked spots in the first Amlin Challenge Cup knockout round.

"The last couple of weeks have been very good for the Welsh regions in Europe," said Wales coach Gatland.

"There is a real feelgood factor."

Wales' tournament opener against England next week is a huge game for both sides, and Gatland admitted: "You have really got to hit the ground running in this tournament.

"If you start well, it builds momentum. If we get off to a good start, and then do well in our next two games at home, then we can have a really good Six Nations."

Gatland is due to name his line-up for the Twickenham clash next Sunday evening, with one of the main pre-selection debates surrounding Ospreys star James Hook.

Hook started all four of Wales' autumn Tests at full-back, replacing the injured Lee Byrne, but, with Byrne now fit again and expected to return, Gatland is under the microscope to find a place somewhere else for Hook.

The possibility of a midfield partnership with his fellow British and Irish Lion Jamie Roberts excites many Welsh rugby fans - and Gatland could consider it.

"I was very pleased with the way James played for the Ospreys (against Leicester) last weekend," said Gatland.

"He showed his skills and he does give us another option in midfield."

Up front, Wales will look to another of their fit-again Lions - Ospreys prop Adam Jones - to spearhead the scrum against what could be an inexperienced England front row.

Wales captain Ryan Jones said: "It's good to have Adam back. You cannot win Test matches without a set-piece and he brings a certain stability to our scrum."