English skipper Phil Vickery has criticised the personal attacks on Brian Ashton which have been so publicly aired since the Rugby World Cup final.

Speaking out after both Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt condemned the coach, Vickery admitted there had been issues that had had to be dealt with but questioned whether they should be laid out in the public arena.

“From my perspective Brian Ashton and the coaches worked their arses off to get things right. So did the players,” Vickery told The Times.

“We did have issues and some of Lawrence’s points are very valid, but at the same time we have to remember there is a book to sell (Dallaglio’s autobiography).

“Brian is always going to have his critics but a line has to be drawn. Sometimes people step over it. I feel very, very sorry for Brian with some of the things that have been said. Some have been very personal and very hurtful. We are all human beings after all. Brian has always had the best interests of the country at heart.”

Vickery said his overriding feeling about the situation and how the England team was being depicted was one of sadness.

“I think the whole situation is very, very sad. It is very sad for the game, too. I just think this has taken away from what is important and that is what we achieved in France.

“Yes we know there were some issues behind the scenes. We did have a meeting to sort out bits and pieces. We said what we felt. I am sure Brian will look back and admit mistakes were made and would agree that things could and maybe should have been done differently. I am sure he has asked himself, ‘Would I or should I have done this or that?’

“I cannot remember a team I have been involved with that had coaches who agreed totally with each other. I am not saying everything was a bed of roses, but I have been in World Cup crisis meetings before - in 2003, for example, after the quarter-final against Wales when we didn’t play well, but that is forgotten because we went on to win (the World Cup).

“With such big squads at something like the World Cup, you are not going to keep everybody happy. Some players will be frustrated. Steve Borthwick and Lee Mears barely got an opportunity at all. Yet they remained committed, got stuck in, supported the boys and trained hard.