England team manager Martin Johnson admits his side must re-discover their cutting edge in time for the Six Nations showdown with Ireland at Twickenham on February 27.

The Red Rose have won their opening two games in this year’s championship but the performance last weekend in the 17-12 victory over Italy in Rome was criticised after England failed to capitalise on the sin-binning of prop Martin Castrogiovanni.

Johnson’s charges put Wales to the sword at HQ in their first game when lock Alun Wyn Jones was sent off for ten minutes, but Johnson is refusing to press the panic button.

The 2003 World Cup-winning captain said: “I admit I would be concerned if we had not created those breaks, had failed to unlock their defence so often. But we did.

“Our fault right now is not taking chances, being ruthless when the hard work has been done.”

Ireland also drew criticism for their limp win over Italy – 29-11 at Croke Park on February 6 – before going down to another poor defeat against France in Paris last weekend to end their hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams.

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