Winning start for Johnson

England ushered in their bold new era under Martin Johnson with a thumping 39-13 victory over the Pacific Islanders at Twickenham on Saturday.

Danny Cipriani, Nick Kennedy and Lee Mears crossed - while Paul Sackey touched down twice - in a hugely promising display that gave Johnson a winning start to his reign as England manager.

Cipriani, back after recovering from a career-threatening ankle injury, also kicked 19 points. But it was a mixed display from the Wasps fly-half, who failed to scale the heights of his last Test against Ireland in March.

Following a bright opening by the Islanders, Cipriani eventually got the scoreboard ticking after 10 minutes with a simple penalty - and England scored their first try four minutes later.

Nippy work from Danny Care set up the platform for the ball to fizz across the line, Cipriani, Riki Flutey and Delon Armitage all involved before Armitage flipped an intelligent reverse pass over his shoulder for Sackey to run in unopposed.

It brought barely a flicker from Johnson up in the stands, although those famous eyebrows did narrow markedly two minutes later when Cipriani's kick was charged down by Fiji's Seru Rabeni, who gathered the ball and dived over the England line.

Another Cipriani penalty was converted before the back line again showed its fleetness of foot, this time Harlequins wing Ugo Monye rounding the defence on the outside to give the supporting Cipriani the easiest of run-ins for his first England try.

Kennedy and hooker Mears added further tries to give the scoreline a deserving look of authority.

The one sour note came late on when Fiji number six Semisi Naevo received a yellow card for a nasty high tackle on Sackey as the Wasps wing went over for his second try.

Thankfully, Sackey emerged with senses intact. As for England, there was a genuine sense of sparkle and rejuvenation which was encouraging.