Pragmatic manager turns focus onto the next challenge

The England team manager came into the pivotal Twickenham fixture under pressure to belatedly start delivering after a less-than-impressive 18 months at the helm.

And his team finally opened up as an attacking force in a see-saw encounter with the Welsh that hinged on Alun-Wyn Jones's needless sin-binning for a trip on Dylan Hartley and Delon Armitage's late interception of a Stephen Jones pass.

After scoring just one try in a trying autumn campaign, crossing the line three times on Saturday was a welcome relief, but as England prepare to meet Italy in Rome next Sunday, Johnson is not getting carried away.

"Everyone's hyped this game up for weeks as the biggest thing – and now the next game against Italy becomes the biggest thing," said Johnson.

"We have had some tough losses and some tough wins. Matches turn on such small things. That sounds hollow when you've lost so you have got to acknowledge them when you win.

"I've said all along that this is a group that's coming together – they're becoming increasingly more confident in themselves, but need to keep demonstrating that by getting wins.

"There is still lots to improve on as a group and as individuals. We have got a good squad of players and we have shown some improvement.

"The guys aren't getting carried away – we did some things well, and some things not so well.

"As soon as we came off the field we were already talking about next week. The massive game is the one in front of you."

England emerged from the game injury free and grateful for some decisive individual performances from the likes of Nick Easter, two-try James Haskell, Jonny Wilkinson and Leeds-born scrum-half Danny Care who was finally able to play with the creative freedom he enjoys with his club side Harlequins.

"Danny did a good job of raising the tempo with his quick-taps and play around the fringes," said Johnson.

"We showed a lot of patience with our first try because we've been in that situation in the past and not scored the points.

"It was disappointing how we lost our way in that middle part of the second half.

"But ultimately we found a way to win and we took that try very well at the end."

Gordon D'Arcy expects to see a "sting" in training this week following an unconvincing start to Ireland's Six Nations title defence. The grand slam champions toiled to a 29-11 victory over Italy after losing all cohesion in the second half .

"My own opinion is that there is 20 or 30 per cent improvement to come from us. Everyone knows it," said D'Arcy.

Centre Mathieu Bastareaud scored his first two international tries as France triumphed 18-9 over Scotland at Murrayfield.