England have lost eight of their 14 Tests under Johnson’s direction.

And Wales will arrive in south-west London on February 6 targeting a third successive victory over England – a feat they last achieved more than 20 years ago.

While Wales must go into battle without either of their injured British Lions scrum-halves, Mike Phillips and Dwayne Peel, Gatland’s 35-man Six Nations squad still boasts enough firepower to make life painful for Johnson.

But, in a general assessment, Gatland said: “I hope England give him some time. Clive Woodward was given a lot of time, with some ups and downs.

“It has been tough for Martin. Everyone knows what a great player he has been. He was given an opportunity to coach international rugby and he probably thought it was a chance he thought he could not turn down.”

Gatland admits this season’s Heineken Cup results – England and Wales are struggling to have significant quarter-final representation – are a concern for both countries ahead of the Six Nations campaign.

“There are two countries going into the Six Nations at the moment a little bit concerned about where their teams are,” he added.

“Potentially, you have four French pool winners and two Irish winners in the Heineken Cup, although Leicester, Northampton and the Ospreys and London Irish have a chance.

“That is not just a concern for England, it has to be a concern for Wales as well.”

Sale Sharks star Peel, meanwhile, was due to undergo a scan today after suffering a groin injury in Saturday’s Heineken Cup defeat against Cardiff Blues.

Peel missed out on Gatland’s squad and, with Phillips not due back from an ankle injury until late next month, 23-year-old Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts is likely to make a first Six Nations start at Twickenham.

“We are not 100% sure how long Dwayne is going to be out for,” said Gatland. “We are just going to assess him over the next few weeks and, when he is back fully fit, we will make a decision on him.”

Gatland’s squad also shows a glimpse of the future, with young Ospreys backs Tom Prydie and Kristian Phillips both selected, together with 23-year-old Saracens prop Rhys Gill and in-form Blues scrum-half Richie Rees.

But the rookies are backed up by returning key personnel such as Lions Lee Byrne and Adam Jones, who both missed the autumn Tests through injury, while experienced Ospreys lock Ian Gough also features.

Gatland has also found places for unheralded Blues forwards Gareth Williams and Deiniol Jones, together with Sale prop Eifion Lewis Roberts, under the continued captaincy of number eight Ryan Jones.

Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, will be involved in the Six Nations but is set to miss Wales’ summer tour of New Zealand as he faces shoulder surgery.

“This is a huge game for both sides,” said Gatland. “A victory for either team will give a huge amount of confidence and give you a chance to win the Six Nations Championship.”

And Gatland wants his players to start coping with being favourites – as and when that tag is pinned on them this season.

“The Welsh love to be underdogs,” he added. “At times, we still struggle to cope with the favourites’ tag and sometimes we struggle under the expectation of winning.

“The off-the-field development of this squad tends to be something that needs to take place for us to cope with that sort of pressure.

“The Irish have crossed that bridge, and I know that, having been involved there and spoken to a lot of their players.

“They look at the Welsh players and think they might be better physically and skilfully, but are they mentally as strong as the Irish?

“We probably need to look at that at the moment and home in on it. You want to be installed as favourites for every game. As a New Zealander, I know the way that I have taken losses and criticism, and I need to see how the Welsh react.

“It is not something that is going to change overnight. It is something we have to look at, and not be afraid to talk about the ’winning’ word, which we tend to shy away from.”