England's rugby union players have been warned there can be no repeat of the off-field antics which have marred their past two trips to New Zealand. In 2008 and 2011 they were caught up in several high-profile incidents and the head coach, Stuart Lancaster, says his squad will be told to behave or else.
England are due to play three Tests against the All Blacks next month and the management are determined to leave their hosts with a more favourable impression on and off the pitch. "I think we've let ourselves down in our previous two visits to New Zealand," said Lancaster. "We need to make sure we leave as good ambassadors for England and with their country respecting us as a team and as a group. Before we leave I'll absolutely be making that point."
Several of the tour squad were involved in the ill-fated 2011 Rugby World Cup during which some England players attracted censure following a big night out in Queenstown. Leicester's Manu Tuilagi will also be returning to Auckland for the first time since his well-publicised ferry-jumping escapade. "I'll probably not ask players to stand up and give us the benefit of their experience but I will probably refer to some things that happened as examples of what can and cannot go on on this trip," said Lancaster. "There'll be lots of players on the eventual squad list who have been involved in previous trips and World Cups who may raise some [media] questions further down the line but I can't control that."
The head coach, however, believes this summer's tour will be a more positive expedition. "It's probably the toughest challenge in rugby to go and do what we're trying to achieve but I do believe we can win the series," said Lancaster, after announcing a preliminary 20-man training squad containing Danny Cipriani, the Sale fly-half who last played for England in 2008. "I won't go into this tour thinking: 'I want to win one or two out of three' because that means you're effectively conceding defeat in one. The mind-set for me will be go and win the first Test, then the second and then the third."
The full squad will not be confirmed until 26 May and Lancaster said he agreed with his flanker Tom Wood, who says it is "ridiculous" that England cannot field a full-strength side for the first Test in Auckland because of its proximity to the previous weekend's Premiership final.
The England and Harlequins full-back Mike Brown has been named Aviva Premiership player of the season. Saracens's Mark McCall won the director of rugby award and The No8 Billy Vunipola was voted young player of the season.
