It emerged that Johnson reprimanded three of his team - 26-year-old James Haskell, Chris Ashton, 24 and Dylan Hartley, 25 - for their treatment of a female member of hotel staff in the days before England moved from Dunedin to Queenstown.

And Johnson backed Tindall after his recollection of his movements on the night out in Queenstown proved to be incorrect.

The England manager has also defended his players after some were pictured drinking following the 13-9 win over Argentina, saying: "You have got to relieve the pressure and let off steam at the right time."

Guscott, who won 65 England caps, scoring 30 tries, and played in the same England side as Johnson, said: "The last thing Johnson wants is to be sat at a press conference having to fire fight questions from journalists."

The centre, who was part of the England side that lost in the 1991 World Cup final to Australia, added: "A few guys going out to let off some steam in Queenstown I can understand but you've got to say 'guys, you're under the microscope'.