How Israel Dagg dodged being the fall guy like Mike Tindall

England's premature departure from this year's World Cup at the quarter-final stage put their off-the-field behaviour firmly in the spotlight and led to the resignation of team manager Martin Johnson and the disciplining of centre Mike Tindall for a drunken night out early on in the campaign.

But Johnson's side were not the only ones to have a controversial tournament. Eventual winners New Zealand also kicked up a storm when Dagg and Cory Jane went on a late-night boozing session 72 hours before the All Blacks' last-eight clash with Argentina.

Dagg was due to miss the match because of a leg injury but that didn't spare him the wrath of furious team officials. All Blacks manager Darren Shand said: "They are the ones who are going to face the consequences now because they are going to be known - particularly across the country - as the guys who let the team down."

Despite that, Jane had a strong performance against Argentina while Dagg returned to play key roles in both the semi-final and final, showing England how to play under a cloud of controversy.

"We had plenty of criticism, too, but it's good teams that deal with those things and win World Cups," said the full-back, who scored five tries in the tournament. "I'm sure if we'd lost one of our tight games we would have been slaughtered just as much.

"It was a silly, silly thing that Cory and I did that night. We had been locked up in a hotel and we wanted to get out for a bit and went a bit too hard. But we came together as a team and we felt we redeemed ourselves.

"You are always doing interviews and press conferences during the World Cup. Then the media try get to your family because you aren't talking, and that is tough.

"I feel sorry for England because the whole Tindall thing was rumbling through the tournament. It's a media thing, they like to blow things up.

"England are going through some tough times now but I'm sure they'll get through it. They are a great nation and play some great footy."

England have made the first tentative steps to regaining creditability on the world stage in past couple of weeks, firstly with Stuart Lancaster being appointed to head a team of interim coaches and then the highly-rated Ian Ritchie taking up the role of chief executive of the Rugby Football Union.

Top of Ritchie's to-do list is the appointment of England's permanent coaches and a dream team combination of former Italy coach Nick Mallett and All Blacks assistant Wayne Smith are the RFU's prime targets.

Dagg believes the appointment of Smith would provide England with one of the game's top coaches but also with some extra discipline.

"Wayne doesn't take any rubbish," said the 23-year-old. "He's serious. Off the field he will have a laugh with you, he'll joke with you, but when it's time for work he wants you to knuckle down. He let's you know if you aren't being professional in your approach or if you aren't playing or training how you should be. He's a great man.

"He is one of the best coaches in the world. He'd be really missed by the All Blacks. Hopefully, he doesn't bring over all his stuff to England and give them a few bullets to get back at us. If England got him, they'd grow another arm and leg. He's just a hell of a coach."

Israel Dagg was speaking exclusively to ES at a signing session for fans in Harrods' new team-sports area, arranged by All Blacks kit supplier adidas.