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The Rugby Football Union has denied approaching Nick Mallett

Sam Burgess’ coach at club level says the cross-code global is committed to rugby union and plans to represent England as a back-row forward at the next World Cup in 2019.

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Lancaster, who has been castigated for his selection policy both for the overall squad and the match days XV, said he thought what he had implemented concerning the structure should be retained.

As if England being pulverised into a meal on home soil by Australia at this morning wasn’t enough, the Rugby World Cup hosts may be penalised for their actions following the match that quashed England’s World Cup run.

“I think what Stuart has built here is more than those two defeats”, said Farrell.

“He did a marvellous job in exploiting the space in and around the ruck against England and that is something we have worked on this week”, Edwards said.

Now, it appears the former Italy coach will be in the frame again to get the job so many in English rugby believe he is well suited to deal with although Sir Clive Woodward, Jacke White and Eddie Jones will also be in the frame.

Talk of rifts in the England camp and speculation over who could replace coach Stuart Lancaster added to the sense of crisis after they were dumped out of the tournament in the first round.

But having not nailed a Six Nations or a grand slam and certainly not this World Cup, I understand there is no room for error.

It is undoubtedly a dead rubber but Lancaster has called on his side to put on a show in a rare visit to the north of England. “We didn’t play as well as we should have and we didn’t get the bounce of the ball”.

Burrell was the last player cut from England’s 31-man squad after he lost out to Sam Burgess, even though the rugby league convert had only one cap to his name.

“When we went to Argentina on tour we played in Uruguay and it was a really tough game (so) it will be very similar”. Ledesma has changed the way Australia approaches the scrum, using a method similar to what the Argentine national team does, with all eight men directing their power through the hooker while pushing hard and straight. You want to protect them and you want protect your country: coming up with excuses makes things worse.

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According to the Daily Telegraph the players have chosen their battle with the RFU and the issue is headphones. I spent a few time with Argentina a couple of years ago and their game has come on considerably since they have been in the Rugby Championship, especially in attack.

All Blacks great Zinzan Brooke believes England suffer from an'underlying fragility