Woodward blasts RFU approach

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The duo have been fiercely criticised this week after questioning Ashton and his World Cup coaching team's approach in their autobiographies - but with the RFU still conducting a post-tournament review of England's performance, former team chief Woodward insists they should be the focus of Ashton's ire.

"The worst example of dressing-room betrayal is actually being perpetrated by the RFU with their anonymous questionnaires and players being asked directly about the England set-up by (RFU Elite Rugby Director) Rob Andrew, who is Brian Ashton's boss," Woodward told The Times. "If (chief executive) Francis Baron had suggested something similar during my tenure, I would have resigned on the spot."

He added: "Players play and coaches coach. To start getting the players to evaluate a coach's performance is a very dangerous path to tread."