Senior England stars question Ashton

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Veterans Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt, both writing in forthcoming autobiographies, have complained of a lack of direction and confusing signals from the team management.

Dallaglio, in 'It's In the Blood: My Life', extracts of which are printed in the Sunday Times, said: "Most of the players, especially the senior ones, picked up on the confusion caused by the lack of direction."

Both players felt Ashton's open approach allowed the players too much of a free rein and consequently the side lacked leadership in France.

They claim that it was not until after the eventual finalists' campaign reached its nadir, a 36-0 thrashing by South Africa in the pool stages, that more decisive action began to be taken.

"Had a stranger walked in on any training session before the World Cup, he wouldn't have had a clue who was in charge," Dallaglio's excerpt continued.

"I hope I'm not going to lose a friendship over what I say about Brian, who was a good coach who I believe was in the wrong role.

"Head coach of the England team demands management skills that, in my honest appraisal, Brian doesn't have."

Catt, who has now retired from international rugby, said in an excerpt from 'Landing On My Feet' in the Mail on Sunday: "We had no game-plan, no strike moves, nothing.

"We had done no meaningful analysis on South Africa, we went into the game with no direction, no shape and, consequently, no belief. It was the worst week I had known in international rugby."