England ace hits back at Carling

Carling reacted to Saturday’s 28-25 defeat against Wales by accusing Lancaster of creating a “classroom-oriented environment” and treating the players as “schoolboys”.

England must topple Australia at Twickenham on Saturday if they are to save their World Cup and Carling’s comments have been greeted with a mixture of anger and disappointment by the 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,” scrum-half 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, a product of the Kirkham Grammar School rugby academy and a former Fylde RFC junior, has taken exception to criticism of England’s lack of leadership, although the Saracens half-back 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.”