Smith shows Johnno's not running a Tigers mafia, says Lynagh

Brian Smith's appointment as England's attack coach will allow Martin Johnson to avoid accusations the team are now controlled by the "Leicester Mafia".

The former Leicester captain has ex-Tigers John Wells and Graham Rowntree as part of his management team and the arrival of Smith, who has quit as London Irish director of rugby, is a necessary statement of intent, says Michael Lynagh.

The Australian World Cup winner started his career alongside Smith in the Queensland team when the dual Wallaby and Ireland international was a scrum-half. Smith later stood in at Test level for Lynagh when the fly-half was injured before opting to become Irish during his time at Oxford University.

Now, Lynagh, in his role as a television pundit, will sit in judgement of his former team-mate during England's November clashes against the Pacific Island Barbarians, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Lynagh said: "Martin Johnson has to be careful in his new role and his regime cannot be seen as some kind of Leicester Mafia. That is why choosing Brian Smith is so important and he's not the first foreigner to help England out. John Mitchell, of New Zealand, was part of Clive Woodward's management team.

"Brian doesn't have a huge amount of baggage that he is bringing to the role and his track record is good, particularly with London Irish, who play attractive rugby with the ball in hand."