Tuesday 29 September 2015 09:36, UK
England scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth has angrily responded to criticism of the team from Will Carling by questioning the former captain's grasp of modern professional rugby.
Carling reacted to Saturday's 28-25 defeat against Wales by accusing current England boss Stuart Lancaster of creating a "classroom-oriented environment" and treating the players as "schoolboys".
World Cup hosts England must topple Australia at Twickenham on Saturday if they are to remain in the competition beyond the group stage.
Wigglesworth indicated Carling's comments have not come as a total surprise, but they have still been greeted with a mixture of anger and disappointment by the England squad.
"We knew coming into this that it could be like this, but he doesn't know, hasn't played the game for how long and hasn't been involved in professional rugby for how long," Wigglesworth said.
"Let's have a meaningful discussion about his knowledge, about what he knows about the game. He is there to further his own career and good luck to him."
Wigglesworth has taken exception to criticism of England's lack of leadership, although the Saracens star would not identify to whom he was referring.
"Certain people who have come out and said things should know better and it seems that no one has ever made a mistake in life and no one has made a decision that hasn't worked out for them," he said.
"They are entitled to do that and are progressing their own careers and I have no interest in anything they have to say because they are not here. They are not living it and doing it and I'm not bothered.
"They annoy me. I'm just indifferent to how ridiculous some of their chat is."
