Sir Clive Woodward believes Eddie Jones is wrong to take a vow of silence in the build-up to next weekend's Six Nations showdown with Wales.
Jones says he will not be speaking to the media until the official press conference on Friday, following the criticism he received for comments he made about Ireland's Johnny Sexton.
Jones said Sexton's parents would be worried about the problems he had with concussions, a comment which some felt was inappropriate.
Woodward, England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach, believes the Australian should come out fighting this week and not allow the Welsh to dominate the build-up to the match which looks to be a decider for the title following England's impressive win over Ireland and Wales' victory against France.
"A fairly middling Six Nations to date has been much enlivened by Jones' pithy comments and shrewd observations and fans generally are very interested to know his views on Wales and Warren Gatland," Woodward wrote in his column in the Daily Mail.
"Come on, this is the Six Nations. If we can't get excited and talk rugby together now - well, when?
"This is one of the biggest sporting stories of the winter and for England not to have their main man, and one of the most entertaining characters in rugby, spearheading all that is a nonsense.
"As ever when you try to make a stand, it can backfire. This morning all the talk and column inches should be about a flawed but really promising England performance, the return of true English grit and a hungry looking team who now face the exciting prospect of tackling the Welsh, who remain slight favourites. But not by much.
"Instead Eddie morphing into a Trappist monk will be kicked around for a few days more and will spring up again when Warren or Shaun Edwards start lobbing a few well-chosen words in England's direction, safe in the knowledge that there will be no comeback. They could have a field day here if they want."