England manager Martin Johnson said patience was the key to England’s victory against Wales in their opening game of the Six Nations.
Discussing his side’s 30-17 victory at Twickenham on Saturday, Johnson expressed his relief at the way in which the hosts managed to avoid a repeat of the game two years ago when England threw away a 13-point lead against the Welsh.
He admitted though he was unhappy at the way in which England "lost their way" halfway through the second half and let Wales back into the game.
"We could have folded and let them in… but ultimately we found a way to win," he told reporters.
Conceding the game had been of massive importance, the England boss said he was now looking towards the upcoming game against Italy.
"It was a huge game, but we’re already talking about next week. The massive game is always the one in front of you… The guys aren’t getting carried away," he added.
Johnson said the squad had made significant improvements since the autumn and praised Toby Flood in particular for the way he came into the team as a last minute replacement for the injured Riki Flutey.
Tue, Feb 9, 2010
General Sport, Rugby Union