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England manager Martin Johnson was in no doubt. Despite scoring a solitary try and tasting defeat in two of their three matches, England have made progress in this autumn series.

"Although maybe it doesn't seem so to some people, we are certainly making strides forward," he insisted, almost daring his inquisitors to contradict him.

Statistically he is right. A year ago, England lost 32-6 to the All Blacks,

As the only Englishman to have tasted victory over New Zealand three times, Johnson knows that such claims have to be put into some perspective, however.

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Martin Johnson said he felt like he'd aged 20 years watching .

If the 39-year-old is already mentally on the verge of collecting his free bus pass, then by the time it gets dark at Twickenham on Saturday they could be metaphorically nailing down his coffin.

"The All Blacks are consistent in performance," the beetle-browed manager noted as he contemplated this week's visitors to south west London. "If we make the same mistakes, we'll be in big trouble."

He was certainly right on the first count (we'll come to the second later.) New Zealand may not have won a World Cup since and that will remain for opposition fans and source of pain for Kiwis until a second one arrives, but they could never be labelled an up-and-down team.

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