 England have slipped to sixth in the world rankings |
Martin Johnson predicted that England's encounter with Scotland in the group stages of the 2011 World Cup would be a "hell of a game" with "huge passion". But the England manager denied that the 2003 World Cup winners had been handed a relatively kind draw in New Zealand. "There are a lot of tough groups," said Johnson, whose team will also face Argentina in Group B, the top European qualifier and the winner of a play-off. "Argentina have been successful and could have got to the final in 2007." England, who have played Scotland just once in the tournament - winning the 1991 semi-final 9-6 - avoided all three Tri-Nations sides in the draw.  | 606: DEBATE |
However, should they qualify, England are likely to face either New Zealand or France in the quarter-finals. "If you want to get to the last week of the World Cup you need to be good enough to beat the best in the world," said Johnson, who played in England's only World Cup meeting with Argentina when Rob Andrew's boot secured a battling 24-18 win in 1995. "There are some pretty tough groups there. Scotland and Fiji were in the third band and they both reached the quarter-finals at the last World Cup. "There will be some awesome games before the quarter-finals - England v Scotland, England v Argentina, New Zealand v France, Ireland v Australia, Wales v South Africa." | We are not picking a team to win in three years, we are picking a team to win now |
Johnson, who presided over defeats by South Africa, Australia and New Zealand this autumn, added: "The World Cup is so huge now in the world of rugby that everything builds up to it. "If there wasn't a World Cup in three years would it change anything? No. We want to improve as a team. "We are not picking a team to win in three years, we are picking a team to win now but of course we will have an eye on who will be there. "But we need to make sure they are still there and playing at the highest level. "When you look at teams that have won it, the last three have all been pretty experienced and the three England teams to have reached finals (in 1991, 2003 and 2007) have all been very experienced."
The full World Cup draw, made by IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset and Chairman of New Zealand 2011 Jock Hobbs: Pool A - Asia 1; Americas 1; Tonga; France; New Zealand Pool B - Play-off winner; Europe 1; Scotland; England; Argentina Pool C - Americas 2; Europe 2; Italy; Ireland; Australia Pool D - Africa 1; Oceania 1; Fiji; Wales; South Africa Should England win their pool, they would face the runners-up in pool A in the quarter-final. If England are second in their pool, they would face the winners of pool A in the quarter-final.
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