Johnson: Victory 'would be fantastic'

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Ten years ago, the Springboks arrived at Twickenham as world champions and one win away from setting a new record for consecutive Test victories. England won 13-7. It was their first victory over southern hemisphere opposition under Clive Woodward and proved to be the first step in changing the balance of power in world rugby.

"It would be fantastic. You can look back on teams and identify their first big win and steps along the way. That would certainly be one for us on Saturday," said Johnson.

"That win in 1998 was our first against the southern hemisphere for about three years and our first under Clive. That was also a newish team."

England's victory did not cure their inferiority complex overnight - the Springboks would punish them in the quarter-finals of the 1999 World Cup - but Johnson recognises it in hindsight as the start of a vital process.

From the second Test against South Africa on the 2000 summer tour through to the 2003 World Cup final, England went unbeaten in 12 consecutive matches against the southern hemisphere giants.

Johnson was particularly frustrated after last weekend's 28-14 defeat to Australia because he felt England had wasted a chance to lay down a marker.

England's record against the Tri-Nations teams since that 2003 triumph has been woeful, with just four wins from 20 Tests.

The Springboks arrive at Twickenham on Saturday on another record run, after five straight victories over England including last autumn's World Cup final.