England's intensity levels need to be lifted – Johnson

Johnson has reverted to his strongest line-up and named the same starting XV that laid the foundations for England's record 35-18 victory over Australia two Saturdays ago.

Lewis Moody returns to the openside as captain and Mike Tindall reclaims his place at outside centre from Matt Banahan after both senior players were rested for last week's win against Samoa.

The Leicester pair of flanker Tom Croft and tighthead prop Dan Cole are also back in the starting team as England aim to end an encouraging autumn campaign on a high.

Johnson was disappointed that England's intensity levels dropped in the 26-13 win against Samoa – and he warned that nothing but total commitment will do against the physical Springboks.

"Every Test is a cup final. There are not little Test matches," said Johnson.

"Against Australia we took the lead and then kept our foot on the pedal. Last week our guys' intensity was a few per cent off and they have to be able to raise that, whoever they are playing.

"It is balls-out from the start to the end. If you are smart, accurate and disciplined then you have a chance to win. That is what we need to get to.

"It is going to be a big, big game. It is a cracking game to be involved in whenever you play South Africa. You know what you are going to get in terms of intensity. We know we will have to play at a very high level. It will be very physical, intense and a great Test match. Everyone is looking forward to a full-blooded Test match at Twickenham."

England have not beaten South Africa since 2006 and two years ago, in Johnson's first encounter with the Springboks as a coach, they were thrashed 42-6 in a record home defeat.

"It wasn't a fun day but that is sometimes what you go through," said Johnson.

Fast forward two often testing years and Johnson now has a settled team that has risen to fourth in the world on the back of successive victories over the Wallabies.

England will have used just 25 players in their four autumn Tests.

If they take South Africa's scalp too it will only serve to enhance the view held by Springboks coach Peter de Villiers that England will be a real threat at next year's World Cup.

Johnson played down any suggestion that England are even close to being considered a finished article but he agreed his current squad had taken impressive strides in a short space of time.

"I think our standards are certainly higher than they were six to eight months ago," added Johnson.

"Our expectations of each other are higher and as a team we are able tell each other 'that needs to be better'.

"This time last year (after England were ravaged by injuries) it was a very different team to where we are now. We were back to square one.

"The great thing is the younger guys have come through and the older guys have come back and are playing well."

As a way of stoking the fires ahead of tomorrow's Twickenham clash, lock Courtney Lawes squared up to South Africa's imposing second row duo of Bakkies Both and Victor Matfield and declared: "I am not scared".

Botha has a fearsome reputation as the enforcer of a physical South African pack while Matfield is widely considered to be the world's leading lineout forward. But Lawes, 21, is not shy of confrontation himself and he is relishing the opportunity to tackle the Springboks.

"They are big, physical guys and they like to throw that around but I'm not scared of them and if they want to run into me, they can go ahead," said Lawes.

"I am pretty big and physical myself. I will enjoy the challenge. What's (Botha) going to do – is he going to start having a fist fight?

"If he does then he's going to end up off the pitch and that's fine by me. I am happy to play against 14 men. I will stay on the pitch and keep smiling while he is in the dug-out.

"I don't get wound up. I don't get rattled. I like a bit of a fight... well, not a fight but a scuffle every now and again.

"But I don't take anything to heart and get angry, so I don't go after anyone. I get my shots in legally. I would never throw a punch in a game. Not even a short punch."

Johnson is also convinced Lawes has the character required to mix it with the likes of Botha.

"The first few contacts of the game are massive. We have to show them we are here to win this game. We have to set the theme for the rest of the game," said Lawes.

"I never think twice, even if I know I am going to go backwards I will still throw myself in there.

"There are some bigger boys than me around who might get over the gainline but I will keep throwing myself in there and I certainly won't be taking a backward step.

"I've had some pretty decent performances and that gives me confidence – but I know that I still have quite a lot to give. I want to keep improving."

England team to play South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday, November 27; kick-off 2.30pm: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), M Tindall (Gloucester), S Hape (Bath), M Cueto (Sale); T Flood (Leicester), B Youngs (Leicester); A Sheridan (Sale), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester), L Moody (Bath, capt), N Easter (Harlequins).

Replacements: S Thompson (Leeds), D Wilson (Bath), S Shaw (Wasps), H Fourie (Leeds), D Care (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Sale), M Banahan (Bath).

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