Third English player fined for mouthguard breach

England lock Courtney Lawes. Photo / Getty Images

England's World Cup of shame has continued with news lock Courtney Lawes has become the third England player to be sanctioned for wearing a branded mouthguard.

Lawes has been fined 5000 pounds ($NZ10,000) for breaking advertising guidelines during the tournament. Skipper Lewis Moody and centre Manu Tuilagi have already been punished for similar offences.

It capped an unhappy tournament for Lawes, who was banned for two matches for striking Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma with his knee, and an even unhappier one for the team who were bundled out by France in last weekend's quarter-final.

It seems that loss will cost Martin Johnson his job, with British media today predicting the England coach will be sacked.

RFU acting chief executive Martyn Thomas told The Sun: "We need the best man for the job. I believe we have to go for the man who will really deliver for England.

"We are unhappy with what happened on the field. England should deliver better than it has and the off-field performances have been wholly unacceptable.

"I certainly don't want to be rushed. If Martin walks, or if it's felt he's not the right man, we may have to appoint a temporary coach to see us through the Six Nations. That's fine. As far as I'm concerned, this time we do it right.''

Controversy followed England throughout the World Cup, from the time Mike Tindall, married to the Queen's grand-daughter Zara Phillips, was caught canoodling with a blonde in a Queenstown bar to Tuilagi being detained by Auckland police after jumping from a ferry following the defeat to France.

Two coaches were also banned for swapping balls during a match and three players were censured for making sexist remarks to a hotel worker.