Boss Johnson warns players over behaviour Down Under
NO-NONSENSE Martin Johnson has laid down the law to his England squad ahead of their tour of Australia and New Zealand later this month.
Two years ago, England quartet Danny Care, David Strettle, Topsy Ojo and Mike Brown found themselves at the centre of sex allegations, while on an ill-fated tour of New Zealand under temporary chief Rob Andrew.
No charges were brought but Ojo and Brown were later found guilty of misconduct following a Rugby Football Union investigation.
Now, Johnson is to lead a 44-man squad on a tour Down Under and has warned his players of the “pitfalls” they face and the responsibilities they must live up to.
“We’ll be together for three and a half weeks in hostile territory, staying in different hotels and city centre locations,” the team boss said. “There will be distractions and potential areas to get embroiled in so we’ll need to be smart and look after each other.
“It’s the world we live in. There are pitfalls and some could be put there deliberately. Day-in, day-out the guys will face these pitfalls when they are out and about in big cities.
“I don’t think they will be targets but this is the world we live in. People have cameras on their phones these days. And because they are who they are, it grabs the headlines. If it was a normal member of the public, it wouldn’t even register.”
Johnson leads his men on a five-match tour which includes two Tests against the Wallabies and ending with one against the New Zealand Maori in Napier.
TOUR DOWN UNDER | KEY DATES
Tues 8 June Australian Barbarians
Sat 12 June Australia
Tues 15 June Australian Barbarians
Sat 19 June Australia
Wed 23 June New Zealand Maori