England crash out of Rugby World Cup

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/04/england-crash-out-of-rugby-world-cup

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Despite years of planning, millions of pounds spent and more than 2 million tickets sold, England have crashed out of their Rugby World Cup after three matches.

To make matters worse, it was their old enemy – Australia – that administered the fatal blow, winning 33-13 at a stunned Twickenham to make Stuart Lancaster’s side the first hosts ever to exit at the pool stages.

As Matt Giteau dived over in the corner to give the score an embarrassing hue in the final minute, the majority of the 81,080 present began to file out in silence.

An England team traumatised by their narrow defeat to Wales a week earlier, when they let a 10-point lead slip, were soundly beaten. Their opponents were assured in attack, resolute in defence and, contrary to England’s hopes, intensely motivated to send the hosts packing.

The home side rallied briefly in the second half after Anthony Watson scored a try to keep them in the match, but dreams of a comeback stalled when fly-half Owen Farrell was sent to the sin bin for the last 10 minutes. For Australia, their fly-half, Bernard Foley, finished with two tries, three conversions and four penalties.

Lancaster’s side face a testing week of scrutiny ahead of their final Pool A match, a dead rubber against Uruguay. Attention is now likely to turn to the future of Lancaster himself, the former teacher who rebuilt the side but has been criticised for his decision-making, and to his captain, Chris Robshaw.

Lancaster said he would be considering his own position, along with others, while Robshaw apologised, saying: “We feel we let the country down today.”

With more than 2.3m tickets sold for up to £715, organisers have no worries about the tournament’s economics. However, there will be concerns that some of the momentum of a hitherto successful event will seep away.

England hoped the return of the injured Jonathan Joseph, their player of the year, at centre would give them renewed attacking impetus. But with Michael Hooper and David Pocock dominating the breakdown, Australia’s handling was slicker and their running more clinical.

Just before the 20-minute mark, sustained Australian pressure told when Foley weaved through the England defence to give the visitors a 10-3 lead. On 34 minutes, he added his second try of the evening following another slick passing move. Just three matches and 17 days after they opened the tournament with victory over Fiji, the hosts were out.

England’s chances of qualifying had been in the balance ever since the draw placed them in the same “pool of death” as Australia and Wales. The excitement of the opening ceremony and the carnival atmosphere before England’s first two matches was gone, replaced by nerve-shredding tension.

Normally boisterous trains that echo to beery bonhomie were packed full of fans with faces as white as their shirts, contemplating the magnitude of the contest to come.

Just about the only noise and colour outside Twickenham was being generated by Australian fans.

In 2003, Jonny Wilkinson drop-kicked his side to a famous last-ditch victory in Australia against the hosts in the final. Twelve years later, Michael Cheika’s side had their revenge.