Lawrence Dallaglio has slammed Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union's director of elite rugby, for creating a system which means England "no longer aim to be the best in the world."
England wrapped up the 2010 Six Nations with a 12-10 loss to Grand Slam champions France in Paris on Saturday.
It was, though, arguably their best performance of the tournament, England demonstrating an attacking verve missing throughout most of the rest of the competition.
Nevertheless, the result meant England finished third - a poor return for a team with their resources.
It also left England still searching for their first Six Nations title since former back-row Dallaglio played in a 2003 Grand Slam-winning team captained by current manager Martin Johnson that went on to win that year's World Cup.
Johnson was appointed to his current role without any previous management or coaching experience.
Dallaglio though said it was necessary to look at the men above him, starting with former England fly-half Andrew, whom he accused of failing to create an environment "conducive to producing a world-class team".
Dallaglio, writing in his Sunday Times column, said: "As manager, Johnson must accept responsibility, but the ultimate responsibility rests not with him but with the RFU's director of elite rugby, Rob Andrew.
"He is the guy who ensured that Johnson began his management journey from the wrong starting point.
"England no longer aim to be the best in the world, the players do not work in an environment conducive to producing a world-class team and, in this respect, we are short-changing the current generation.
"You only know how good a player is when he is allowed to work in the right set-up.
"This isn't just personnel; it is also about England's lack of an overall philosophy," added Dallaglio, who contrasted the current regime with that of Clive Woodward, England's 2003 World Cup-winning supremo.
"Woodward talked endlessly about world-class standards producing world-class players; he got us to focus on being the number one team in rugby, not just in European rugby."
Johnson, however, was adamant England were making progress, telling reporters: "I said to the guys as France picked up the trophy 'you have played the Grand Slam champions and you took them all the way'."
.jpg)
