Rugby’s Johnson defends England squad

Endemic tensions and clashes throughout the squad have been revealed in three reports which have been leaked to The Times newspaper.

Martin Johnson, who stood down as team manager last week following a dismal World Cup campaign, said: “Of course it is not great to see those bits.

“It was one of the worst things I have experienced in the game. You don’t like seeing criticism of people, of yourself, of players.”

But Mr Johnson vehemently defended his squad and accused the newspaper of cherry-picking the worst extracts from the reports.

It was one of the worst things I have experience in the game. Ex-manager Martin Johnson

“To pick out the most emotive and the worst comments is dangerous and very damaging and not a true reflection of that group,” he said.

“One of the things they did in difficult circumstances was stick together.”

He added: “Do not take the extreme opinion written in extreme circumstances as fact. You are frustrated because what is being reported is not anywhere near the truth of it. From my point of view that is a fact. That is not what happened.”

Mike Tindall kicked out of England Rugby squad

Referring to the negative aspects of the report – namely the account of ill-discipline, mismanagement, division and avarice – Johnson said that the leaks had been damaging.

“The saddest thing for me is that it doesn’t reflect well on the whole game right now,” he said.

Meanwhile, The Times said that three England players were put under pressure by the RFU at the World Cup to pay more than £14,000 to buy the silence of a chambermaid who had alleged she had been harassed.