England coach Andy Farrell has denied suggestions that he had too much influence over player selection.
The Red Rose became the first host nation to crash out of the Rugby World Cup at the group stage after slipping to successive defeats against Wales and Australia.
It has been suggested in the wake of England's exit that certain players felt backs coach Farrell had a bigger say in matters than boss Stuart Lancaster.
Farrell has refuted these claims, however, and reiterated that his own nepotism was not behind the key decision to select son Owen Farrell at fly-half ahead of George Ford.
"Four of us as coaches get together and have a selection meeting," he is quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. "You put your two pennies worth in and Stuart makes the call and we all buy into that. It's unanimous.
"I think what Stuart has built here is more than those two defeats. Three-and-a-half years under Stuart has been built on solid foundations. He has done marvellous things for this country and this rugby team. He is the hardest working Englishman that I have ever met.
"We have had some big wins and some losses on the way. But Stuart has an ability to put things in place and bring a meaning to the shirt. It has been a privilege to work for such a caring guy."
England face Uruguay in a dead-rubber to see out their World Cup campaign next Saturday.
Daniel Lewis
