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London - Former England centre Jeremy Guscott told the BBC on Monday that the behaviour of some of the England players during the World Cup has been unacceptable.
England have been dogged by negative news stories throughout the tournament in New Zealand which came to a head last weekend.
Three players were forced to apologise to a female hotel employee for harassment while World Cup winner Mike Tindall - married to the daughter of Princess Anne - admitted he had misled officials about his night with a mystery woman.
Guscott, capped 65 times during a 10 year international career, said that the players were showing a lack of respct to the country and their supporters.
"You're representing your country, you've got the hopes and dreams of millions of rugby supporters back home and all they're hearing is stories of messing about and drinking," said the 46-year-old.
"It's completely unacceptable.
"This is a Rugby World Cup. If you think you're living in a goldfish bowl wait until the 2015 Rugby World Cup (in England). They'll be under a microscope then."
Guscott, who played in three World Cups including the 1991 final where England lost to Australia, said that some of the players didn't seem to realise that they were representing their country at the sport's global showpiece.
"(Manager) Martin Johnson's got a few kids that aren't acting as though they're playing for England, or at a World Cup," said Guscott.
"The last thing Johnson wants is to be sat at a press conference having to fight questions from journalists.
"It is beyond belief, to tell you the truth, it is staggering."
Guscott, who toured three times with the British and Irish Lions and most memorably dropped the decisive goal in the series clinching win over South Africa in 1997, said they should have taken a leaf out of Wales captain Sam Warburton's book.
"What was an eye opener was Wales captain Sam Warburton revealing the last time he had a drink was during the Six Nations," said Guscott.
"He made a conscious decision not to have another drop of alcohol because he wanted to be as best prepared as possible.
"I'm not saying everybody should do that but what is six weeks out of your life?"
