MARTIN JOHNSON will send England into their opening RBS Six Nations game against Wales with a licence to thrill after naming the boldest attacking team of his 18-month tenure.

The return of Mathew Tait and Danny Care are the signature selections, representing a marked shift in emphasis following England’s insipid performances during the autumn series.

Faced with an unprecedented injury list, Johnson’s management team effectively went into damage-limitation mode for the Tests against Australia, Argentina and New Zealand, leaving England stilted and one-dimensional.

They scored just one try in the series and all three opponents left Twickenham claiming not to have been stretched, comments which stung England.

Johnson and attack coach Brian Smith have revised the game-plan, loosened the shackles and urged England’s new-look back division to trust their natural instincts.

To that end, Tait’s incisive attacking game has been preferred to the more sturdy presence of Dan Hipkiss while Care, the livewire Harlequin, has been recalled in place of Paul Hodgson.

“We have talked about what we want to do. We were maybe a little bit too prescriptive in the autumn and there were reasons for that,” explained Johnson.

“We know we have got to be more effective.

“We trust the guys to go out and play.”