No let up as eyes are already set on the Samoans

Their breathtaking 35-18 success at Twickenham saw the Red Rose post their biggest-ever points total and equal their highest winning margin against the Wallabies as they delivered the finest performance of Johnson's two-year reign.

Such was the quality of their new-found, free-flowing, rugby England have suddenly been touted as potential challengers for next year's World Cup.

"People might take notice now but if we don't produce next week they'll take notice of that," said Johnson, urging his side to concentrate firmly on Samoa at Twickenham this Saturday. "The players got rewards for all the work they've put in. I told them to have a good night but let's keep putting the work in and we'll get better.

"People start talking about perfect games of rugby but calm down. That doesn't happen. We were pretty good (against Australia) but we need to be a bit better next week."

Johnson, rarely one to get carried away with anything, has constantly spoken of the way he wanted his England side to play yet they have never fulfilled his gameplan with such command.

Whereas June's 21-20 success in Sydney was more down to their hosts' inaccuracy with the boot, there was no denying the rampant Red Rose were fully deserving of this victory over a side that had recently beaten world No 1 New Zealand.

"We're a pretty good team when we play consistently for 80 minutes like that," added Johnson, after England displayed verve, tempo and flair. "We had energy but that comes from lots of things – like keeping hold of the ball.

"We even left some tries out there but still won by 17 points. We need to repeat it next week against Samoa."

England had shown glimpses of cohesion against New Zealand a week earlier but discovered genuine crispness and potency to rattle their old rivals at headquarters.

"We just put another layer on it this week – turning a half-break into a break, into a score," added Johnson. "We did many things better and suddenly the questions asked me about their (Australia) backline aren't being asked right now."