A repeat of last year’s first experience the Calcutta Cup is “highly unlikely” for Sam Johnson, who now knows all about the special nature of the annual clash between Scotland and England.
Johnson’s spectacular try completed Scotland’s comeback for the ages at Twickenham, the final part of a recovery from 31-0 down after less than half-an-hour to lead 38-31 going into the last few minutes. Guttingly, Johnson was also the last man in an exhausted defence unable to stop George Ford from tying the scores with his try on the last play of the game.
“Last year was pretty unique and to play a game like that against anyone would be highly unlikely,” he said. “There were some tough memories followed by some of the best memories, ones I will remember for the rest of my life.
“It was a great occasion. But I remember after the game being totally gutted because it’s a game we should have won, and you’d never have thought that half an hour into it.
“It was very strange. We were left disappointed and the opposition were celebrating the draw.”
The try that completed the comeback will always be remembered for Finn Russell’s “no-look” pass that sprung Johnson through a huge gap on a 30-metre run to the line, where he was swamped by excited team-mates and the realisation of what it all meant came pretty quickly.
“I probably didn’t realise the magnitude of things at the time, but I was in shock after scoring the try,” he recalled. “I honestly didn’t think I’d won the game at that point because Test match rugby is a different animal from everything else.
“It wasn’t a planned move as such, it was just seeing what was in front of us in playing into space, Manu (Tuilagi) was drifting out and Nathan Hughes bit in on Finn (Russell) and that created the space.
“Finn is a good enough rugby player that he saw that and I just ran into the space.”
Growing up in Australia, he shared the general antipathy towards English but didn’t quite get the nature of the closest rivalry until last year, he admitted.
“I wasn’t aware of the scale of this game when I was growing up to be honest,” said the centre. “What I will say is that no one likes England, it was the same growing up in Australia.
“Whether it’s cricket, rugby or any sport, you want to win against them. You fully respect England because of how good they are, but I don’t think anyone likes them when you’re growing up.
“We have the greatest respect for England because they are so good, and you almost hate them for it.”
England will be gunning for the win at Murrayfield after their unexpected loss in France, but Scotland need a win badly as well, pointed out Johnson.
‘You France probably shocked England a little bit with the way they played, England have that plan to start quickly and get points on the board,” he said.
‘Credit to Shaun Edwards for creating that new defensive system, and I think ours is quite similar now with Steve Tandy coming in.
‘It’s just about matching them at the start of the game because, as Eddie (Jones) says, they rely on their brutality at the start of the game – brutality in general. We need to match that.
“They will be disappointed, but we lost as well. It’s going to be two teams desperate for a win and whoever is the more physical will come out on top.”
