Martin Johnson's warning is ringing true

England team manager Martin Johnson is pleased that people are finally listening to him about the giant-killing potential of rugby's so-called 'minnows'.

Asked about the strong performances of the smaller nations in Rugby World Cup 2011 so far, Johnson said it was one of the best weekends of pool rugby in RWC history.

"We've been telling you it was going to be like this and now you're telling me?" he responded to the assembled media at an England press conference on Tuesday evening.

"The weekend showed what we've been saying all along. They've been battles, the so-called smaller teams have been right in there. You're a fool to underestimate anyone."

The statistics support Johnson's point with the average winning margin across all matches in the first three days just 17 points, the lowest ever in Rugby World Cups and less than half the figure of four years ago at RWC 2007.

Crushing victory

Mindful of the challenge posed by England's next Pool B opponents, reigning European Nations Cup champions Georgia, Johnson has been trying to debunk the idea that the smaller nations still represent guaranteed victories for the big guns.

England's crushed the debutant Lelos 84-6 at RWC 2003, but Johnson had a clear message for those expecting a similar result in New Zealand.

"There's a bit of criticism gone round in the past about the World Cup having some meaningless games in the pool," he said. "But it's not turn up and score 50, 60 points anymore. It's harder than that and we've seen it."

Better organisation on the field and the diversification of professional rugby squads is at the root of the improvement, according to Johnson. It is a theory underlined by the fact that more than a third of Georgia's RWC 2011 squad play for clubs in France's top two domestic divisions.

England hooker Steve Thompson supported Johnson's thoughts and even rates Georgia's prop David Khinchagishvili, with whom he played at CA Brive in France, as one of the best looseheads he has ever packed down beside.

Gap is shrinking

"Teams are getting organised," said Thompson. "In past World Cups perhaps all the teams didn't look at their defence, they just played with the ball, but now there's not as much space as there has been.

"Before they were just big lads who came over and put everything into it, whereas now they've got technique and systems. That's why the gap's getting smaller."

Although Johnson does not believe an upset is inevitable, he reaffirmed the fact that he will try to ensure England are not involved if one does occur.

"It's good for the game," said Johnson. "You just don't want to be the team that loses."
England meet Georgia at the Otago Stadium, Dunedin, on Sunday, 18 September.