With the build-up to the match being dominated by counterpart Warren Gatland’s criticism of England hooker Dylan Hartley, Johnson is determined to prove that his team do their talking on the pitch.

He said: “They (Wales) have filled most of it. I don't mind. I like a spicy build-up to a game, it gets the blood flowing. Then we go and play. A rugby game is about who is playing not about who said what.

“If you haven't won for a long time, you get that feeling of 'when is the next one going to come from?’

“We can control that in the game. We must give them no easy outs, no easy scores. If we get into the last quarter with them behind, that is where we want to be.

"That is the mental side of the game that is very important. I told our squad last week in Portugal that a lot would be said because it's England-Wales and there's a lot of media space to fill over 12 days.”

England’s encouraging performances during the autumn internationals that included an impressive 35-18 win against Australia, has left Johnson convinced that on their day England can beat any side in world rugby.

"There's certainly a different mood in the camp and I think that comes from winning some big games,” he added. “There's a belief there that we can go and play against anyone and be successful.

"There's a certain confidence in the team that you get if you win some big games, or if you lose some as well but go through experiences. This is a big game. It's what you grow up watching as a rugby fan, I certainly did.

“We've got to set our standards very, very high so if we don't quite reach them we're still pretty good. The All Blacks win because their worst performance is still pretty good."