‘Other countries do their very best to get their best players available.
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The tournament hosts can not reach the quarter-finals following defeats to Wales and Australia but finish their group stage campaign against the South Americans.
“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. We will no doubt show everyone he is a back row, not a centre. Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Ian Ritchie promised a ‘”360-degree review” that will take place after the team bow out of the competition following their dead-rubber contest at the Etihad Stadium and volatile emotions are allowed to cool down somewhat.
Lancaster, however, insists Burgess will not be ending his three-and-a-half-year contract with Bath after only 12 months.
There is an inevitability that the coach will have to change.
But the team he’s gone with throws up a number of questions. He loves rugby union, he is settled in Bath and he knows he is a six [blindside flanker].
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 half-time in a comprehensive 33-13 defeat by Australia that sealed the team’s World Cup fate.
They have a strong side and they will probably have a lot more support now England have gone out as well so I think they have a good chance of success.
“But it’s not just about me”.
“This is an important game for rugby in the north of England and we want to give those people who have been looking forward to this game something to cheer about”.
“There was a crucial scrum penalty that went against us, Australia scored on the back of that and that made it 17-3”. Instead he has focused on his job at hand and spoken openly about anything put to him, when asked what he would tell the Stuart Lancaster of 2012 he said with a hint of a smile “Good luck, get a tin hat and a flak jacket”. I’ve got a fantastic opportunity over the next few years to do really well at Bath. Robshaw who has faced stinging criticism along with Lancaster said he would not discuss his future until after the Uruguay game.
“I don’t think I’ll ever come to terms with it personally because it was such a big thing”, he added.
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“I have a huge amount of respect for what he has done since he took over in terms of the discipline and the way the players conduct themselves”, he said.
