Flood defends country after club put boot in

Toby Flood has dismissed claims by Leicester director of rugby Richard Cockerill that training with England has undermined his goal-kicking.

Cockerill has accused England kicking coach Dave Alred of reducing Flood's effectiveness by meddling with his technique and failing to inform Leicester of any changes made.

After a stunning start to last season, Flood's success rate dropped as he missed a string of key kicks in the Grand Slam defeat in Dublin and Leicester's Premiership Final loss.

But the 26-year-old fly-half, who is expected to replace Jonny Wilkinson in England's second World Cup warm-up game with Wales on Saturday, insists he is benefitting from Alred's input.

"I've not talked to Cockers about it," he said. "It's his responsibility and it's his decision what he says in the press. I missed two kicks in this year's Premiership Final and everyone was questioning me. Obviously, it had a big impact but things don't change overnight.

"I've been kicking here with Dave since the autumn. I felt comfortable in the autumn and I felt comfortable in the Six Nations.