KEY POINTS:
LONDON - Martin Johnson insists England captain Phil Vickery should let his actions speak louder than words in Saturday's World Cup final against South Africa.
Johnson knows what it feels like to lead a team into battle on the sport's grandest occasion after captaining England to World Cup glory in 2003.
In the tense final moments before that triumph over Australia in Sydney, Johnson opted to keep quiet rather than given any Churchillian speech.
He believes it is better to let the players focus on their own performances and wants Vickery to follow his example.
"I didn't give a team talk before the 2003 final," said Johnson, writing on his Orange Rugby World Cup blog. "Team talks are overrated. These guys will have been talking all week about what needs to be done.
"They'll be talking specifics, about all the little points in the game that will make all the difference. They're in a World Cup final so you don't have to say too much."
Johnson is confident England can emulate his side's final victory if they reproduce the aggressive starts that rocked Australia and France in their last two matches.
He said: "The start is absolutely vital, as is the period before half-time. That was when Australia scored against us and that was the most dangerous point against the French in terms of them doing something.
"If we can put constant and relentless pressure on South Africa, not let them have anything easily and don't let them get too comfortable too quickly and keep playing into that last 10 minutes then we have more than a chance.
"We cannot give them points easily. One huge, last effort is what the players will be asking of each other.
"They have got to stay in the game and make South Africa go the distance. That's the key."
South Africa's scrum-half Fourie du Preez is the dangerman England must deal with, according to Johnson.
"I think the guy we really need to shut down on is Fourie du Preez, their scrum-half. He's a big playmaker for them and hurt us in the group game (he was named man of the match in the 36-0 drubbing of England).
"We certainly can't let du Preez make those runs across the defensive line and then make breaks or put people into gaps because that can be lethal.
"Putting pressure on their forward pack and around the fringes, not letting du Preez get quick ball in his hands and running with it, that's all key for us."
- AFP
