England must unite after off-field scandals — Flood

London: Toby Flood has called for England to unite "for the greater good" ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against France, after indicating that the off-pitch controversies during the tournament have tested the harmony of Martin Johnson's squad.

Johnson revealed on Sunday that some members of his squad had been "disappointed" that the off-field scandals involving a drunken night out in Queenstown and the harassment of a hotel worker in Dunedin had taken the spotlight away from the team's achievement in topping their World Cup pool with victories over Argentina, Georgia, Romania and Scotland.

England wing Mark Cueto claimed on Sunday that the controversies had been blown out of proportion and rejected the notion that the squad had been unprofessional in their conduct in New Zealand.

Flood, however, appeared to contrast that viewpoint when he said on Tuesday night there had been incidents in the squad "that obviously haven't been what we wanted" and said players should accept responsibility for their actions.

"I think Mark's point is valid to a degree in terms of there's been a lot written about it," said Flood. "However, you're in a World Cup. There's a lot more fuss, a lot more than goes on with it. So rather than five papers, there's going to be 25.

"You stand by what you do as a person. You have to be accountable for what happens in life. By no means does that make somebody an idiot because as a squad there's a camaraderie there.

"You surround them and you're behind them. That's what we have to do as a squad. We understand things have happened. Yes, all right. Things that were not really what we wanted."

The Leicester fly-half said he hoped the opportunity of reaching a third successive World Cup semi-final would bring the England squad closer together and help them forget the off-field misdemeanours.

"I think time and place draws you into uniting behind the team," said Flood.

— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2011