Sheridan can power Johnson to victory

Johnson's unique place in English rugby came courtesy of that 2003 World Cup final win over Australia in Sydney, the last time he played for his country. Now, five years on, he takes the first meaningful steps on a path he hopes will lead to more glory on a global scale, in New Zealand in 2011.

There may have been international caps awarded last Saturday for the comprehensive win over the Pacific Islanders, but that was an appetiser, a mere pre-season friendly, for what comes tomorrow at Twickenham.

A sell-out crowd of 80,000 will create a very different atmosphere for the players - 13 of whom started last weekend's win over the Pacific Islanders.

That victory was against a team who had hardly trained together and didn't play to the sum of its individual parts. Australia are a totally different prospect, having battled through 11 Test matches since June - beating South Africa away and New Zealand at home.

They are not the best that the southern hemisphere has to offer but they are a huge step up for Johnson's team.

Yet the former second row is showing in management the same level of loyalty to his players that he did in 16 years turning out for one club, Leicester, at Welford Road.

England's back three of Paul Sackey, Delon Armitage and Ugo Monye are all retained and will provide fireworks, speed and the excitement.

The platform for success against Australia will be a familiar one and one close to Johnson's heart.

Prop Andrew Sheridan has been accused by some within rugby of being a "flat track bully", but he is the kind of forward player who loves to destroy his opponents - the same way Johnson did on his way to a World Cup in 2003.

Sheridan's reputation as a destructive scrummager is based on his ability to embarrass various Australian props and he gets another opportunity tomorrow at Twickenham.

Over the years the Aussies have come up with various ruses, including passive scrummaging, pushing sideways and forcing reset scrums by getting their front row to buckle on initial contact in order to counter their weakness at tighthead prop.

South African referee Marius Jonker will be looking out for all these tricks of the trade tomorrow and England must react quickly to his interpretation of the game's laws.

As Mike Ford, the England defence coach said: "We have to be smart and read the referee on the day.

"The pressure of a Test gets to everyone and if we are having a bad day then we may have to leave off contesting certain areas."

The scrum will be a key area and if Jonker allows it to be a real contest then Sheridan will be given the opportunity to again bully Al Baxter.

Baxter is an architect by trade and is helping design one of the new stands at the Sydney Cricket Ground while also playing international rugby. With 51 appearances, he is the most capped Wallaby prop which, given his frailties in the set piece, highlights the limited options open to head coach, New Zealander Robbie Deans.

Watching 16 grown men trying to impose their collective and individuals wills on each other may not be a ratings winner, but for the rugby purists, including Johnson, the battle of the two scrums will be compulsive viewing. If Sheridan can pummel Baxter at the first attempt it will give the entire England team a boost and bring the crowd right into the contest.

Of course, it then comes down to what England do with the ball their forwards produce and Danny Cipriani, the young fly-half, is just as important as Sheridan in establishing English control.

Matt Giteau, the Wallaby No10, will be ordered to test Cipriani's defence and launch a series of high kicks to determine just how effective the new England back three really are. Armitage and Monye will be the main focus for Australian attention and we will discover if they have what it takes against one of the best teams in the world.

England may lose the try count tomorrow but I expect them to win through Cipriani's boot - after all, he kicked 19 out of England's 39 points last week.