Johnson: Don't expect 'sexy' rugby

Martin Johnson took the first step towards building an England side in his own image today as he awarded four new caps and then warned fans not to expect 'sexy' rugby just for the sake of it.

Fullback Delon Armitage, winger Ugo Monye and centre Riki Flutey will make their Test bows against the Pacific Islanders on Saturday, alongside lock Nick Kennedy, in a back division low on experience but high in excitement.

Only winger Paul Sackey and centre Jamie Noon count their international caps in double figures, leaving England with five backs sharing just two England Test starts between them, courtesy of Danny Cipriani and Danny Care.

England's back division boasts pace and creativity in spades and Johnson is hopeful they can exploit Brian Smith's new attacking structure on the old cabbage patch at Twickenham this weekend.

But Johnson never put much stock in entertainment for entertainment's sake as a hard-nosed player and little has changed since he took charge of English rugby earlier this summer.

Some tries would be nice - but the new boss has only aim this weekend: for England to open their new era with a victory over the physical Islanders.

"The first aim is to win games. If you do it by scoring more tries and those tries are aesthetically pleasing to people then great," said Johnson.

"But first we need to win. That is what it is all about and that is where all the coaches are coming from.

"We want to play in a certain way not because people think it looks sexy but because we think it is the best way to win the game."

Johnson could have been speaking five years ago. It is the same theory he has always espoused and one he shared with 2003 World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward.

The clear thinking and direction Johnson offers was one of the key reasons he was targeted by the Rugby Football Union to replace Brian Ashton, who was removed from office after the 2007 World Cup final.

There will be a major sense of anticipation at Twickenham on Saturday from an England rugby faithful desperate for Johnson to replicate his playing heroics from the coaching bench.

"My approach is the same as it was when I was playing - a bit of nervousness, a bit of excitement but mostly just focusing on what needs to be done," he said.

Johnson's first team selection was dictated partly by injuries but he was not afraid to give opportunities to those who have been rapping firmly on the door both this season and last.

London Irish lock Kennedy will make his first start in the second row while Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley is in line to win his first England cap from the bench. Both get their chance after being unused on the summer tour to New Zealand.

Armitage has been fast-tracked from outside the England set-up following injuries to Mathew Tait and Nick Abendanon.

Monye was called in to replace the injured James Simpson-Daniel and has been rewarded for an electric start to the season with five tries in seven games for Harlequins.

"They haven't come in and looked like guys making their debuts," said Johnson.

"Did we think Delon Armitage would come in and play fullback? No we didn't. He wasn't even among the 64 players we named in July but these things happen.

"I said to him: 'It doesn't matter how you get your opportunity, it is how you take it'.

"Monye has obviously got fantastic pace and athletic ability but I like his maturity as a player and he has shown that this week.

"We felt Kennedy deserved his chance in the side. From our point of view we want those guys to play well and give us real depth to our squad."

Flutey, a former Junior All Black, has long been on England's radar after he played a major role in Wasps' Guinness Premiership title charge last season.

He only qualified to play for England on residency grounds in September but Johnson is not in the slightest bit concerned by his background.

"He is an outstanding person let alone a rugby player. He is an all-round number 12," said Johnson.

Flutey will play outside Cipriani, who returns to the England team after recovering from a gruesome ankle break six weeks ahead of schedule.

Cipriani's only Test start came against Ireland in the final round of the 2008 RBS Six Nations when he ousted Jonny Wilkinson from the number 10 jersey and inspired England to victory at Twickenham.

"I think he is capable of doing that again. This is a different attacking philosophy now with Brian Smith. We want people to perform at the highest level now with England. That is the aim," he said.