New England manager Martin Johnson has admitted that wholesale changes were required after England's recent rocky tour of New Zealand, but that he trusts every members of the new England and England Saxons squads as "men of good character".

"I don't think there is a tougher task than going to play New Zealand away," said Johnson after naming a 32-man senior squad. "What did we find out? Some of the players stood up and competed well and I think we found out something about everyone who went on that tour, and that is factored in to the squad we have named today. We were beaten in those two matches by a very good New Zealand team. We have to compete with them and become a better rugby team."

Johnson was speaking after dropping 13 players who toured New Zealand from the elite squad. In typically direct fashion, he insisted that winning matches and making England a better team were his priorities. However the allegations made against four of the players in New Zealand will continue to hang over this team and Johnson admitted that discipline and conduct would be discussed when the squad gets together in August. "There is something in the contract about that," he said. "A lot has been spoken about that after New Zealand. When we get together in August it will be one of the first things we discuss. The players will be aware of it. They will be under no illusions as to where responsibilities lie. Although the allegations were very serious, I regard the 64 players we have chosen of very good character."

Johnson and elite rugby director Rob Andrew will introduce a new code of conduct for future touring parties that all players will have to adhere to. But the new manager knows that just issuing a piece of paper will not guarantee a trouble-free tour. "If all players in English, British rugby haven't learned a lesson from what's gone on they will never learn a lesson," he said. "It is a balance of enjoying being a rugby player on tour with the obligations to the team, to the performance and not getting into situations where serious accusations can be made.

"We saw that with Danny Cipriani getting photographed during the Six Nations. The guys have to understand their responsibilities and how to handle being an international sportsman, an international rugby player. The behaviour things we are talking about - the late nights and females in hotels - are important. There are certain things that will be non-negotiable, but there are other things you want the players to agree with and want themselves. You can write down a code of conduct on a piece of paper, but the guys need to have a set of behaviours they adhere to within a team.

"The successful teams I played in all had a culture that was based around the characters who were there. We need to get to that point. This team needs to find its own culture and its way of operating in the modern rugby world, which has been changing for the last few years."

Andrew hopes to have some 'closure' on the the whole New Zealand issue by the start of next week at the latest. Johnson said he selected the two England squads on merit, but he can make changes for disciplinary reasons if required. He said: "For disciplinary reasons, players can come out of that squad. We can't pre-judge the inquiry, so we have to pick those guys on their rugby merits.

"We have picked 64 guys who all have good characters. That comes into it - you need guys who have strong characters who can stand up to the pressure of playing international rugby."

Johnson insists the demotion of Mike Tindall and Ben Kay into the Saxons squad does not relate specifically to their performances as senior players on and off the field in New Zealand. "It's not a reflection of their performances in New Zealand," he said. "We always knew there would be 40 plus players who could make the 32 and if they didn't make it they'd have to drop down into the Saxons. It was a very tough call on Mike, the same with Ben Kay and Nick Easter."

Andrew added that he expects to announce details of a new forwards coach by the end of the week. "We have identified who we want and made an offer. We are now discussing his release from his current contract," he said.