BY general consensus Wales are in trouble when it comes to defending their Six Nations title -- but don't tell their charismatic Australian skills coach Scott Johnson because he won't hear of it.

Wales have lost nine players because of injury, suspensions and retirement, and five of them were integral members of the side which won the Grand Slam after an absence of 27 years last season.

OUT because of injury are Kevin Morgan, Tom Shanklin, Chris Horsman, Brent Cockbain, Ryan Jones and Luke Charteris; OUT for the first couple of Six Nations games at least because they are banned are Gavin Henson and young lock Ian Evans, and OUT because of retirement is Sonny Parker, who has just announced he is giving up international rugby.

It's a huge obstacle to overcome, made even more difficult because England, who are showing signs of rediscovering their former powers, are first up on February 4 and at Twickenham where Wales have a poor record.

But Johnson will have none of it. He sees it as a challenge rather than a big hurdle to overcome and he insists the pressure is all on England, not his boys.

"There's not a side out there we need to worry about," he said dismissively at yesterday's Wales squad announcement - and that was just for starters.

"I want us to compete, I'd love to come out of the Six Nations with a couple of new players who can go further than this competition, then they'll be ready to rock 'n roll in 18 months," he said, referring to the 2007 World Cup.

"I don't think England is that big a game. We're going into the lion's den and the pressure is on them to perform.

"England needed to win against Australia in November, that was the priority and the pressure is still on them so they'll feel an edge, we won't.

"I want us to get a plaque there at Twickenham, there's enough England plaques there. I want them to know that we're coming and we're coming to play rugby, but if they choose to play another way that's their right. "I've heard that England coach Andy Robinson thinks this is their biggest game since our meeting in the last World Cup, well that's great, bring it on.

"I'd like to think he'd have a well prepared side, but we won't be predictable because we'll be a different type of team.

"The last time we played at Twickenham we scored more tries (actually it was 3-2 the other way but Johnson won't be bothered by a little correction like that) but we just didn't have any ball. We gutsed it out despite a tackle count of something like 240-70 which was ridiculous.

"There is an issue that sides will be prepared for us now, but everyone knew what the All Blacks were going to do, they just did it better. It's not what you do, it's how you do it.

"If we get the opportunities against England we've got to punish them, we've got to ensure that when the chances come we make them bleed."

Whatever England say pre-match, whatever they throw at Wales and whatever adversity Wales find themselves in, none of it will bother Johnson one jot.