BRIAN SMITH has resigned as England’s attack coach.
The Rugby Football Union confirmed the news, which follows team manager Martin Johnson’s resignation earlier this month and comes after Australian Smith was heavily criticised in a leaked players’ report which followed the disastrous World Cup campaign.
Smith was recruited to the management team by Johnson in July 2008 having previously been director of rugby at London Irish. He has decided not to seek a renewal of his contract with the RFU.
Smith’s coaching came in for criticism from some England squad members as part of the Rugby Players’ Association’s World Cup review.
One player was reported to have said: “I would be delighted if he went.
“Our attack play was boring, uninventive, lacklustre, even schoolboy at times.”
Another is reported to have said: “If we’d got to the semi-finals or final it would have papered over the cracks and the worst thing is Brian Smith would have stayed in his job. It might be a blessing.”
Smith is understood to have already been sounding out coaching roles in Australia.
He said: “I feel that England have made great strides in the last three years and although the World Cup was a massive disappointment we have won 10 out of the last 13 games.”
