'Wales are dangerous'

A Welsh victory would rank as one of the greatest World Cup upsets, given England's official status as the No 1 team on planet rugby.

Johnson and company have won 19 of their last 20 Tests, beating among others, New Zealand (twice), Australia (twice), South Africa (twice), France (twice) and Wales three times.

But England saw enough in a quality Welsh display against the All Blacks last weekend to be on their guard.

''Wales scored 37 points against New Zealand, and not many teams have done that. We haven't done it,'' said Johnson.

''They are a dangerous team with plenty of talent. We had a tough time against them in the Six Nations Championship last season, and I think you have to look at our win against them in August (England triumped 43-9) for what it was, a World Cup warm-up match. This is the real thing.

''Wales have got some talented players, and we are taking nothing for granted. It's knockout rugby now, and one team goes home on Monday.''

The statistics suggest that England should encounter few problems, having defeated Wales ten times since Ieuan Evans famously 'ambushed' Rory Underwood and scored a much-replayed winning try at Cardiff Arms Park in 1993.

Many of the games have proved lamentably one-sided - 50-10 last year, 44-15 in 2001, 46-12 the previous season, and 60-26 at Twickenham in 1998 - but England also suffered the agony of a 32-31 Grand Slam-wrecking defeat four years ago.

''Week in, week out, we play tough games of rugby, and Wales is our entire focus at the moment,'' Johnson added. ''I am confident in our guys' ability, and confident that we can play better than we have done so far. We've got to try and stop Wales, and they are going to try and stop us.

''You have got to fight tooth and nail for everything you get. After this weekend, one of us will end up being a World Cup quarter-finalist, and the other a semi-finalist.''

England kept in touch with Wales heroics against the All Blacks, either side of the post-match press conference and function following the Pool C appointment with Uruguay.

''It was 28-10 to New Zealand at one stage, and before we knew it, Wales were ahead,'' recalled Johnson.

''It was a hell of an achievement by Wales. There was a time in the game when they appeared to be breaking for the New Zealand line almost at will.''

England's higher-than-usual penalty count has given Clive Woodward and his coaching team food for thought over the past few weeks.

Their normal single-figure statistic has grown into double-figure misdemeanours during the tournament, and perhaps been the major reason why they have yet to hit top gear.

''You work hard with things like defence and your tackling, but that's all gone if you give silly penalties away,'' Johnson added.

''Wales have world-class kickers, and they are going to hurt you if they get the opportunity. The penalty-count is very high on our list of priorities.''

Despite those uncharacteristic problems, England topped Pool C with four victories out of four, scoring 255 points and conceding just two tries, which is a defensive record that no other team left in the tournament can match.

''There were some aspects of the Samoa game (England won 35-22), that were disappointing, but I always felt in the second-half that we were going to win,'' he continued.

''We've played some tough games, and Samoa was a hard game, and any of the so-called top teams playing in the quarter-finals this weekend know that if you don't play well, then you can be beaten.

''No-one is thinking that they have got their semi-final place booked.''

* Australia open side flanker Phil Waugh believes he and his fellow loose forwards face a huge challenge from their Scotland counterparts when the teams meet in tomorrow's World Cup quarter-final.

Waugh and his team-mates will face the highly-rated trio of Simon Taylor, Jason White and Cameron Mather in Brisbane, and he knows they will be in for a battle.

''The Scotland back row really challenge hard to try and win their team quick ball so that's going to be a real tough contest,'' said Waugh.

''We haven't paid a lot of attention to the teams outside our pool but having now watched Scotland's games they have improved every match and we are expecting a tough contest. The challenge at the breakdown will be huge.''

The Wallabies have been under intense pressure from local media to provide more attacking fire, and they will try to find a spark by winning the forward battle.

Coaching co-ordinator Ewen McKenzie is well aware that his pack face some impressive players.

''They've got a good scrum and a good line-out,'' said McKenzie.

''They have some tall players and their backs are formidable with lots of speed and skill.

''They've played a different style this year but can change their tactics so you have to be on guard."