England players deny they are ‘cheats’ as criticism of team’s tactics mounts

ENGLAND players were yesterday forced to deny accusations that they were cheats in response to a gathering media storm in Australia.

Clive Woodward’s team have been the subject of a growing campaign to discredit their tactics, with former players lining up to criticise their style of play.

But England’s players lined up to defend themselves against the accusations that they are cheating. Prop Trevor Woodman said: “We are not cheats and would be giving away more penalties and picking up yellow cards if that was the case.”

Lawrence Dallaglio is the latest to be singled out, with former All Black Stu Wilson labelling him a “professional cheat”.

Writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, Wilson said: “Lawrence Dallaglio is the most professional cheat I have seen and a few more in the pack aren’t far behind as they keep trying to bend the rules to breaking point.”