Johnson relishes hostile reception

England have not won in Cardiff since Johnson was captain in 2003, and he has warned his squad they will not experience a more fervent anti-English sentiment anywhere else in the championship.

Potentially a third of England’s starting team – including the likes of Ben Youngs, Ben Foden and Dan Cole – will be playing a Test at the Millennium Stadium for the first time. Johnson urged England to feed off that animosity and use it to kick-start their bid for a first Six Nations title since the grand slam eight years ago.

“Being an Englishman in Cardiff on that weekend means you aren’t the most popular, which is great. I’d rather have that than polite indifference,” said Johnson.

“The Millennium is a great place to play – the most hostile in the Six Nations for an Englishman.

“The stadium being in the middle of Cardiff. It is all very tight with a good bus journey. They want to beat England at rugby – that is not a secret and we want to win down there.

“It is a great occasion for an Englishman to go to Cardiff and play. The opening game of the tournament in a World Cup year adds something.

“You have to enjoy it. You want to play in the big games. We have to be ready.”