Robertson calls for reform

Robertson has told Press Association Sport there is "a welter of evidence" to show that the structures around the England team did not work during their calamitous campaign in New Zealand which saw them exit at the quarter-final stage under a storm of off-the-field incidents.

Robertson would not talk specifically about Andrew, the director of elite rugby, but he told Press Association Sport: "When I look at the World Cup, I am clearly disappointed by the way the team performed and it is difficult not to conclude that the high performance system around the England team did not function in the way that it ought to."

He added: "The most important thing for the RFU coming out of the disaster of the last World Cup is to seize the moment and use this as a time to reform and renew the performance structures around the England team.

"There is a welter of evidence now that it didn't work in New Zealand. They have really to rake over the coals of this honestly and openly.

"Their ambition should be to produce a high performance system for the England team that should be the envy of every other rugby union around the world.

"The RFU are incredibly well financed. They have now got to produce an England team that can not only compete at the next World Cup but can be a team the country can be proud of."

The RFU have already begun an investigation into the leaking of damning reports into England's turbulent World Cup campaign this week.

The reports, obtained by the Times newspaper, painted a picture of friction and leadership failings within the camp.