It is the latest in a series of blows to the England side since the loss to Australia consigned them to the ignominy of becoming the first host nation to fail to reach the knockout stages. “We have done that so we will see what next week holds”, Lancaster said after the game.
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As if going out was not bad enough, England face an ongoing investigation by World Rugby over allegations members of their coaching staff approached match officials – strictly against the rules – during halftime in a comprehensive 33-13 defeat by Australia that sealed the team’s World Cup fate.
England ended their disappointing World Cup campaign with a resounding 60-3 rout of Uruguay in Manchester.
Both coaches and the Rugby Football Union have also been reprimanded and warned over their future conduct, in particular with regard to complying with the match officials protocol.
Those who went to the match saw a reassuring performance with 10 tries and a chance for a few of England’s new generation to stake a claim for places.
“They have been in contact with us wanting to speak to us, but I don’t know what the process will be”, said England’s assistant coach Andy Farrell, who refused to comment further.
The game started ominously for the English, conceding a penalty after just 90 seconds for offside which Felipe Berchesi slotted over.
Watson got the ball rolling, touching down Jack Nowell’s chip through although replays showed he was clearly ahead of the kicker and the try should not have been given.
Watson could have been offside but referee Chris Pollock awarded England’s 1,500th Test match try.
Easter grabbed his hat-trick on the hour mark after another rolling maul and the floodgates were truly open.
Watson got an easy try just after the break and Slade charged down a Uruguayan kick and rushed in to get his name on the sheet.
Nowell was next to cross over, after scrum-half Care broke clear to feed him, and Farrell rediscovered his range from the tee before making way for Jonathan Joseph.
Alex Goode was denied a try by the TMO but, with ten minutes left on the clock, Nowell was not, crossing over by the right touchline – and he soon had a hat-trick of his own. Other teams under this type of pressure and scrutiny might have cracked but I don’t think we did.
“I’ll address questions about my role in the next couple of weeks”, said Robshaw in what appeared to be an acknowledgement his time as England skipper, having been appointed to the post by Lancaster, is coming to an end.
The Wallabies are the most impressive team at the tournament and are setting the benchmark because they have been forced to play well in a very tough pool. They feel bad… for not qualifying.
“It has been a tough week for the players and certainly the reaction of the crowd was a lift, I thought the crowd were brilliant tonight”.
“We had high hopes of doing well”, Lancaster said.
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In many ways, Friday’s game is a good one for the All Blacks because it’s the kind of fixture they will go into with a certain edge as Tonga hit hard in the tackle and are capable of scoring tries.
