Dave Alred: Chris Robshaw "played his gut feeling"

Ex-England kicking coach Dave Alred has refused to criticise captain Chris Robshaw for the role that he played in the 28-25 defeat to Wales in the Rugby World Cup at the weekend.

With England trailing late on at Twickenham, the hosts won a penalty. Robshaw opted to kick for touch and go for a match-winning try, rather than ask Owen Farrell to kick for goal to secure a draw.

However, the home side's lineout was short and moments later the referee blew for full time.

There has been much scrutiny on Robshaw since then, but Alred has insisted that the skipper had only acted on "his gut feeling".

"In the heat of battle Chris played his gut feeling. Had it worked and they'd won the game he would have been a hero," Jonny Wikinson's former mentor told 888sport.

"Sadly in terms of execution it didn't but it's so difficult for people to emphasise with what it's like on the pitch. Heartrate buzzing, you're looking at the scoreboard and you've got an opportunity like that.

"He would have thought of the steals from the last lineouts and a lot of people would have done the same thing in his shoes and played the eighty minutes he played."

England are next in action this coming Saturday when they take on Australia.