England and Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell has refuted Leicester coach Matt O'Connor's comments that the national side are too negative on the field.

The Tigers head coach criticised interim boss Stuart Lancaster for dropping Leicester duo Toby Flood and Ben Youngs as well as claiming that England don't enter a game trying to win.

"He is entitled to his own opinion," Farrell told the Northern Echo. "We have our own views. We are excited about the way we are playing at the minute. The way we played against Wales was a massive step in the right direction for us and we all thought that.

"It was still disappointing to lose a game when we created quite a few chances but we are massively excited about the way we are going and I hope we can build on that.

"I don't see how else you go into a rugby game [but trying to win it]. I don't think I have ever had a mindset to just avoid defeat otherwise you don't play how you want to do."

England take on France in their next Six Nations clash this weekend.