England coach Eddie Jones has mounted an angry defence of his fullback Mike Brown.
Brown was magnificent in treacherous conditions as Wales were edged 12-6 in a tense Six Nations showdown at Twickenham, commanding the air and making more ground than any other player.
The adversity was tailor-made for Brown's fighting instincts and Jones rounded on perceived criticism of his first choice in the No.15 jersey amid calls for Anthony Watson or Elliot Daly to be properly tested in the position.
In a radio interview given immediately after the match, an incensed Jones went on the offensive.
"You guys (the media) tell me Mike Brown can't play Test rugby ... you guys are unbelievable!" Jones said.
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"You're always criticising him, now he has a good game you're all on the bandwagon. You guys are better selectors than we are, that's what you think you are."
Jones later gave a more measured response when asked about Brown, even comparing him to England's most capped footballer, who made 125 international appearances across two decades.
"It would definitely be Mike Brown who is my man of the match," Jones told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek.
"He's been the most criticised player in English rugby and again he's showed why we have been winning games. He's like the Peter Shilton of rugby fullbacks.
"He's done that in 24 Tests for us. He's our fullback, he carries the high ball, he plays with courage and he plays the way that England want to play."
Jonny May ran in two tries as England raced into a 12-0 lead inside the opening quarter, but Wales kept pounding away and departed Twickenham nursing a strong sense of grievance after Gareth Anscombe had a try ruled out by the television match official.
Anscombe appeared to exert downward pressure with an outstretched hand at the end of an attack down the left wing, but the TMO thought otherwise in a decision described by Wales coach Warren Gatland as a "terrible mistake".
"The TMO made a decision that I can't influence one way or the other and I'm happy to ride with whatever decision they make," Jones said.
"We have a guy up there who is a referee and he has time to make the right decision and if he can't make the right decision, what can we do?"
