LONDON (AFP) - England duo Mike Catt and Lawrence Dallaglio will not be punished by the Rugby Football Union for bringing out books following the team's run to the World Cup final where they both made critical comments regarding coach Brian Ashton's performance.

Both players were members of the 2003 squad that won the World Cup in Australia and featured again during October's final where England lost 15-6 to South Africa in Paris.

Their comments received widespread coverage throughout the British press but they have each since apologised for the way in which their words were serialised in British national newspapers.

That appears to have been a factor in the decision of the RFU to avoid disciplinary action.

"The RFU has taken into account the recent public comments made by both players, who accept that the timing of the release of the books was not ideal," the governing body said in a statement issued Wednesday.

Dallaglio, who did not make the first team for much of the tournament, made it clear he thought the team had made the final in spite of Ashton, rather than because of him: "Head coach of the England team demands management skills that, in my honest appraisal, Brian doesn't have."

Veteran centre Catt said that ahead of the group stage loss to South Africa - where a 36-0 defeat was England's record World Cup reverse - Ashton "seemed to be in a state of confusion".

But he said that after England beat Australia in the quarter-finals, Ashton "was on top of everything".

The RFU are expected to announce next month if Ashton will continue as England coach.