Paul Gustard insists he will take the comments of England supremo Eddie Jones on the chin in a bid to become a better coach.
Despite being part of the England camp that beat Australia on home soil this summer, when the tourists enjoyed a 3-0 whitewash, Gustard was criticised by head coach Jones.
The Australian was unhappy with England's defensive displays under defence coach Gustard, who was appointed to the position in December of last year.
The 40-year-old accepts the assessment, saying: "I've worked with Eddie before and I knew he would be frank.
"I don't mind that. I don't want to be an ordinary coach. I want to be the best coach I can be. And it wasn't unfair criticism from Eddie, it's a critique.
"It is refreshing and it is rewarding. If you take it personally, then it's your ego at work.
"The game isn't about us and it's not about our ego. It's about the players and if we can make them better. That's my job."
Gustard has spent time with the New Zealand Warriors rugby league team and, on Monday of this week, oversaw a specially arranged judo session with the England squad - aimed at boosting their breakdown skills.
Gustard added: "I was looking at league's defensive systems and stuff around the tackle.
"There are transferable skills from judo too. We missed 80 tackles in the series against Australia and that's not good enough."
When the Newcastle-born former lock was appointed to his England role, Jones noted: "He has overseen Saracens' growth as a team, he has produced an aggressive defence system there and we are hoping he can do the same for England."
This autumn, England host internationals against South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Australia.