Lancaster still facing the flak

If ever there was a definition of a 'no-win' game, England's final match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup against Uruguay in Manchester on Saturday is surely it.

An event that started with such high hopes for coach Stuart Lancaster's side has seen England become the first tournament hosts to fail to reach the knockout stages after successive 'Pool of Death' defeats by Wales and Australia respectively.

For England's Rugby Football Union, the sport's wealthiest national governing body and blessed with one of the game's largest playing bases, the word "disappointing" doesn't do justice to the scale of the reverse.

It has all left Lancaster, whose contract was controversially extended to 2020 last year, battling to save his job amidst suggestions that, for all his acknowledged decency, his lack of top-flight experience meant he was lucky to get the role after Martin Johnson quit following the 'debacle' of England's quarter-final exit in New Zealand four years ago.

Anything less than a thumping win over Uruguay, a largely amateur side, threatens to add humiliation to the embarrassment of England's early exit.

"After two defeats on the bounce it's taken some work to get everybody back in the right place," said Lancaster, who has had the unpleasant experience of hearing his competence called into question in a series of ever more excruciating press conferences this week.

Lancaster has made several changes to his side but the fact he is only now giving Exeter centre Henry Slade his first appearance of the tournament will be seen as more damning evidence by his detractors of the coach's misguided preference for power over skill.

- 'Here and now' -

Equally beleaguered England captain Chris Robshaw, whose lack of effectiveness as a back-row forward at the breakdown has been contrasted unfavourably with the likes of Australia's David Pocock and Michael Hooper, continues to skipper the side.

"We're very much focused on the here and now. 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.

Saturday's match had been planned as a chance to showcase rugby union in the north of England, once a stronghold of the 15-man game but now more associated with football and rugby league.

But former league star Sam Burgess, whose inclusion in the World Cup squad as a centre after barely 10 months in union and one Test appearance was arguably the most controversial selection decision yet taken by Lancaster, isn't even on the bench.

"This is an opportunity for us to finish the tournament with a strong performance against Uruguay," said Lancaster.

"We owe it to ourselves and the supporters who have been brilliant throughout.

"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."

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.

"I'll assume we'll hear something within the next 24 hours," said Lancaster.

It may not be the only news he receives in the next day or so.
Source: AFP