Rob Andrew's rescue mission

RFU chief executive Francis Baron insisted this morning that the four players at the centre of an alleged sexual assault in Auckland last Saturday strenuously deny any wrong-doing.

But having already been thrashed 37-20 in the First Test, the odds on England getting anything out of the second match against New Zealand are enormous with the All Blacks 33-1 on to win.

Johnson's phone will have been redhot 12,000 miles away in Leicester as he fielded calls from skipper Steve Borthwick and acting manager Rob Andrew.

Johnson was unable to travel due to birth of his second child and this happy event is in stark contrast to the damaging emanating from the tour. He must now watch on television tomorrow morning and pray that whatever happens does not further tarnish the England shirt he wore with distinction.

Elite rugby director Andrew will have to deliver the team-talk of his life in Johnson's absence. The fact this whole scandal happened on his watch will only increase pressure on the former England and Lions outside half.

Andrew is responsible for setting out the parameters for the party, establishing what is acceptable behaviour using his vast experience on various tours as a barometer.

However, Andrew is lightweight compared to Johnson in terms of dominating a group of more than 30 young men, who are half a world away in a country that bestows huge importance on international rugby players.

While the England squad can walk largely unrecognised around English cities, in Auckland and Christchurch they are stopped and asked for autographs and noticed when they are in late night bars and clubs.

With sports loving royal Zara Phillips having travelled out to watch boyfriend Mike Tindall, the need to avoid further controversy is even more important.

With six changes - five in the backs - England are desperate to convince a sceptical New Zealand public they are not a reserve side and the back drop at Christchurch is appropriate.

The stadium is only half built with a temporary capacity of 25,000 which means the match will be a sell-out.

Given the way the All Blacks tore England to shreds in the First Test, organisers may have struggled to sell more tickets. Even in this rugby-mad country, watching England being flogged has lost some of its appeal, particularly in the face of this police investigation.

But pride in sport can do funny things. A win tomorrow would be one of the biggest upsets in English rugby history given all that has gone before. And, if Johnson wanted an inspirational voice to replace his in Christchurch,

let's hope the rest of the England team listen to Tom Rees.

"What choice do we have? It is all very well people talking about the future but we have to show our potential," said the London Wasps flanker.

"I am thinking about the holiday at the end. I will enjoy it a hell of a lot more knowing I did myself proud right up until the end.

"I will have a crap time if I spend four weeks doing nothing thinking of how

I played a poor game of rugby on the last weekend of the season, because that is what I will remember.

"To come away at the end of a long season, put so much emphasis on the First Test and then feel as disappointed as we did makes it a pretty big mountain to climb to get back up for it this weekend."

That's the sort of challenge that Johnson, the player, thrived under.