And they were indebted to replacement Tom Croft’s late try to see them home to put them one match away from a first Grand Slam in eight years.

Ireland stand in their way, but Johnson believes being pushed all the way by Scotland is ideal preparation for their decisive trip to Dublin.

He said: “We have to be smarter next time. Every game has got bigger as the tournament has gone on and everyone was saying it would now be easy to beat Scotland but they fought for their lives.

"I'd be happier in a way going to Dublin next week off the back of that game rather than scoring a lot of points and having it easy. It focuses everybody's mind.

"We've got lots to be better at. We know we can play a lot better than that.

“We have won four on the trot and everyone else would love to be in our position.

“We have not won in Dublin for a while and we have got to go away to play them [Ireland] who are proud team who will be smarting after Saturday.”