Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Martin Johnson has insisted the recent chaos at the Rugby Football Union has not impacted on England's World Cup preparations.
The RFU went into meltdown in the wake of John Steele's sacking last month, with chairman Martyn Thomas forced to stand down as a result.
But England manager Johnson is confident it will make no difference to the country's World Cup hopes, as he continues preparations for the tournament in New Zealand.
"No, not at this stage," he told the Evening Standard.
"If it was 18 months ago and we were wanting to make big decisions, maybe it would have.
"Two years ago would have been harder because we may have been looking for some new players. But everything's in place in terms of our preparation. We're set up here.
"The last four weeks have just flown by. Next week is the last of our training camp and then we're into warm-up games.
"We're off in five weeks. We'll be on the plane before we know it."
He added: "It is really far removed from the players, it doesn't affect them.
"It's not going on at their club, to whom they're contracted. They come and play for England, so they're just getting on with what they do.
"They want to get in the World Cup squad, they want to get better as players. Their concerns are: what am I doing today, what's the training, what's for dinner?
"I doubt if there's been any huge discussions about it. It would have been the same in any team I've played in."
Steele was ousted following the failed plan to install England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward as the RFU's elite performance director.
Johnson said: "It's too late in the day for anything - whatever appointment would or wouldn't have been made. I'm still the coach, we're set on our course and we're happy with it."
Johnson added of his own contract, which ends after the World Cup: "When John [Steele] was here he said, 'Let's talk about it after the World Cup.' I said, 'That's great. I'm very happy."'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments