England gamble

Wellington: When even Martin Johnson needs padded protection on the training field it suggests that his team have got the message that unless they are in just the right frame of mind for today's Pool B finale with Scotland at Eden Park then they might as well pick up their boarding passes now for the flight home.
The England manager took to wearing what is known as a ‘humping pad,' to shield himself from impact as he contested restarts. Johnson revealed that there had been ‘an edge' in those sessions, a sign that England are aware of the consequences of this last weekend of group stage action.
Thursday's sanction for breaching both the laws and the spirit of the game in switching balls used for conversions illustrates how fine the margins are at the moment. You look for every little advantage for it may be the one that matters.
Perilous position
England may well have won all three games, yet they could be Heathrow-bound on Monday if they make a mess of today's encounter. That Scotland are in a far more perilous position, needing to win by eight points or more while England might get through even if they lose, does not carry any truck with Johnson.
"That could make Scotland potentially dangerous, it could make them vulnerable," Johnson said. "We're both fighting for our lives. If we lose, then it's not in our hands. We have to make sure it is. Or we could be sitting at home on Tuesday."
Johnson insists England are primed for what is sure to be a fierce battle on all fronts, particularly at the breakdown. He certainly seemed assured when announcing a team showing three changes from the side who ran in ten tries against Romania last weekend, Delon Armitage stepping up for hat-trick-scoring Mark Cueto, lock Courtney Lawes returning from a two-match ban and Matt Stevens recovering from a sprained ankle to claim the loosehead slot.
England have no interest in slide-rule mathematics and will rely on the fear of possible elimination to spur them to a decent performance. "Those warm-up games in August felt like do-or-die at the time but they've paled into insignificance," Johnson said. "We're under no illusions about what is facing us. This is knockout rugby."
England do have the benefit of an unbeaten run in the tournament to bolster their confidence as well as the solace of only two defeats in the 11 matches played since the turn of the year.