Eddie Jones' recent comments on the RFU are an "old story being re-touched upon" with the former England boss airing such concerns when he was England boss, according to his former skipper Dylan Hartley.
The outspoken Australian, who is now back in charge in his homeland, was at the helm at Twickenham for seven years before his dismissal in November. He's criticised the RFU, his former employers, ahead of the World Cup, holding them responsible for the lack of talent coming through the system.
Several years ago though he aired similar concerns with how the English system worked - particularly the private school system and the lack of resilience it taught. Last year he claimed the team's "resolve is not as it should be" which stemmed from their "closeted life" at upper class schools.
Amid the outcry regarding Jones' comments, Hartley, who was immediately appointed as England captain by the Australian, doesn't see it as relevant to the World Cup with the point being touched upon in the past.
He told Mirror Sport: "I think Eddie was mentioning that sort of thing when he was with England it is not as if he's thrown barbed words from Australia. I remember he had concerns about young players through the private education system and not being resilient.
"I don't think it is a new thing - I think it is an old story being re-touched upon, it is not relevant to the tournament and the playing group. I think England has a huge player pool, they still need to grow that and unearth some diamonds, there's still more to be done but I know the RFU pump a lot of money into the grassroots."
Jones was recently quizzed by the BBC on England's current issues and said: "Everyone looks at the head coach and let's blame the head coach. But the onus on producing quality players is the RFU and that hasn't happened. You've got to look at why you're not bringing talent through, then you've got to look at why your talent development systems are not doing that - because the system's not right. What needs to change? Where's the gap? That's the responsibility of the RFU and it's not for me to give them answers."
The Australian coach left Twickenham to a chorus of boos following defeat in his final game against South Africa as the hosts were outfought and outplayed on their own patch. Results have nosedived since England reached the final of the World Cup four years ago.
In the lead up to the current tournament warm-up matches at Twickenham have been played in front of crowds that were far from capacity. England's poor run of form, which has seen them win just three of their nine games this calendar year, has contributed to frustration with Hartley adamant the team have to give them something to believe in.
"I think England fans are loyal and they want to support, they believe, but the team need to give them something to believe in," he added. "The team will be thinking, it is us against the world, our backs are against the wall here.
"There are loyal fans that do support through thick and thin, but there are others who sit on the fence and need a bit of encouragement through results and performance."
The last time England fans flocked to France for a World Cup they saw their side hammered in the pool stages by South Africa, losing 36-0, before they shocked Australia in the last eight and the hosts in the semi-finals before a narrow 15-6 loss to South Africa in the final.
Former England Rugby Captain, Dylan Hartley, has unveiled a unique portrait of England Rugby fans at the iconic Louvre Museum in Paris as part of O2’s Wear la Rose campaign, ahead of England’s first match this weekend.
