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Johnson has accused the media of "imbalanced reporting". Rebecca Naden/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Leaks are 'not a true reflection of the squad,' insists Johnson

Johnson has echoed claims made by Rob Andrew that the information in the controversial documents was exaggerated.

MARTIN JOHNSON HAS finally spoken out in reaction to the controversial document leaks that have caused further embarrassment to the England team, following their disastrous World Cup campaign.

Calling the leaks โ€œone of the worst things Iโ€™ve experienced in the game,โ€ Johnson stated that they were โ€œnot a true reflection of the squadโ€.

Johnson backed up the claims of Rob Andrew, suggesting that the damning nature of the leaks, which portray a highly divided England camp, constituted an exaggerated version of events.

Speaking to the BBC, he said:

โ€œThey are opinions, certainly not truths. They were written in an emotive time for everyone post-tournament.โ€

Johnson also claimed the media were partially to blame, due to the perceived ineptitude of their reporting:

โ€œThe way they have been leaked is detrimental to the game. The way it has been reported, the imbalance, is one of the worst things.โ€

However, the ex-England boss conceded that some players didnโ€™t help their cause, owing to their poor behaviour:

โ€œCertain actions by certain players did let the group down and led us to be portrayed as something we werenโ€™t and something they arenโ€™t but we didnโ€™t help that at the time so of course there were frustrations.โ€

The England side received widespread criticism for their actions both on and off the field at this yearโ€™s Rugby World Cup, which prompted Johnsonโ€™s recent departure as head coach.

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