Woodward slammed over Johnson decision

England coach Clive Woodward stood accused yesterday of giving Martin Johnson 'shabby treatment' by replacing him as captain against Italy last week.

The attack came from Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler, a former England captain who played in the same Tigers team as Woodward. Wheeler even went as far as suggesting that Johnson's demotion contributed to the low quality of England's win in Rome on Sunday.

Wheeler, writing in a his local newspaper column, said: 'I cannot help thinking that Clive Woodward's messing about with Martin Johnson had some detrimental effect on England's performance.'