Johnson is mindful of the need to establish a squad capable of challenging in New Zealand in two years time but refuses to sacrifice results in process.

England appear to be making progress, with Saturday's 24-22 defeat by Argentina their first loss in four Tests, while exposing new players to international rugby.

Matt Banahan, Chris Robshaw, David Wilson, Tom May and Sam Vesty have all won their first caps this summer among 46 players who have appeared on senior England duty this season.

"We've always got be looking at the balance of winning the next Test match and the confidence that builds in the team against the World Cup," he said

"As a player and manager you have to see each Test match as an individual challenge.

"There's no point writing off a Test match to blood some players, you want to blood Test players and win.

"Every game is a development game because we have the chance to get better from it. But we want to win.

"We wanted to beat Argentina on Saturday. I don't want to look guys in the face and say it doesn't matter if we don't win because we're a development team.

"They want to win and get the belief and confidence that comes with it."

Banahan, the Bath winger, and London Irish full-back Armitage have been the finds of the season with neither player among the 64-strong senior and Saxons squad named last summer.

Intuition taught Johnson that both would adapt swiftly to Test rugby, yet he admits he is never certain of a new cap until he steps onto the pitch.

"You get a sense whether a guy can handle it. We've all seen players that we've had doubts about but then they fly right from the start," he said.

"Other guys you think they'll be fine but they seem to struggle.

"International rugby suits some players while others play brilliantly well in the Premiership but don't make it.

"You get a sense for a player. Look at Matt Banahan. He's been so composed during the three weeks we've had him.

"He's very sensible in what he wants to do. It's not surprising when he performs well on the field. Delon Armitage is like that.

"Full backs were going down all over the place early in the season so Delon came in and looked so composed on the field.

"You see what they do on the training field and what they're like as a person.

"But no one really knows until they get into a Test week and have to handle the pressure."