"This loss is going to stay with me for a long, long time, probably forever”
Geoff Parling addressed the media on Monday evening with these words, it was forty eight hours after England exited the Rugby World Cup and make no bones about it the hurt was as potent and agonising for him as it was on Saturday night. A day later Stuart Lancaster reiterated again that he will ‘never get over this loss’ and we all know that neither man is exaggerating the depth of their feelings, going out of a home Rugby World Cup will leave deep scars on all involved.
That said the Rugby World Cup schedule halts for no-one and, as excruciating as it will be, this England squad have a test match to prepare for on Saturday afternoon. Some will label it as a ‘nothing match’ however the only sense in which that rings true is with regard to changing the pool results and allowing England to progress further in the competition. The fact is that every single player and member of England’s management are approaching it with respect and intent - they are professionals and this is a chance to represent their country.
England’s pack to face Uruguay contains the familiar names, it is fair to say that during this tournament as a collective they haven’t reached the heights that were expected of them. Over the past two years England’s pack and scrummage in particular has been a force in rugby and I expect them, along with the rest of the squad, to make an empathic statement on Saturday evening albeit against less experienced opponents.
The backline that will run out at the City of Manchester Stadium is rammed with talent and play makers. Due to the attributes of every single individual wearing 9 to 15 on their backs the expectation is that they will explode onto the park and play high paced, exciting, attacking rugby. If they do this and England score multiple tries of course the question will be raised as to why a backline like this wasn’t played previously against Wales or Australia? However the management’s belief was that England did not lose, the Welsh test match in particular, due to a lack of creativity, instead they lost due to ill discipline and poor composure.
Stuart Lancaster, in spite of all of the spotlight and scrutiny surrounding his position, was as articulate, open and honest as he always has been and in spite of his personal hurt is focused on Saturday;
“Clearly you're in a dark place. The last thing you want to do is to finish a game and then brush it off because you can’t. How do you brush it off? But equally as a leader in charge of the team you have to give everyone a sense of direction, purpose and perspective. That’s an important word.”
“While all the noise outside the team is huge at the moment, internally I’m absolutely determined the team stays together and stays positive and stays believing in what they’re doing. We’ve played some brilliant rugby over the past 12 or 18 months and even before then.”
“We’ve not won every game, but we’ve won a lot and played some good rugby and people shouldn’t forget that. It's important the players understand that and listen to what I’m saying about where they can go as a team in the future. I think they’ve got fantastic potential.”
I believe, one hundred percent, that we will see that potential on Saturday afternoon. There are individuals that haven't had any game time in a number of weeks, Jack Nowell, Danny Care, Henry Slade etc. and they will be eager to remind us all of their worth. The non-selection of Sam Burgess has been made into a 'big' story, as has every single element concerned with the Bath player. Stuart himself doesn't see it as big deal, the fact of the matter is you can only select two centres & he wants to see the combination of Owen Farrell & Henry Slade & that has solely informed selection.
This England side is hurting deeply but they all are consummate professionals that will deliver for their country and endeavour to show just what they are made of as the rugby world watches on and knows that they are out of their home competition.
This England side is hurting deeply but they all are consummate professionals that will deliver for their country and endeavour to show just what they are made of as the rugby world watches on and knows that they are out of their home competition.
England XV: 15. Alex Goode 14. Anthony Watson 13. Henry Slade 12. Owen Farrell 11. Jack Nowell 10. George Ford 9. Danny Care 1. Mako Vunipola 2. Tom Youngs 3. Dan Cole 4. Joe Launchbury 5. Geoff Parling 6. James Haskell 7. Chris Robshaw (C) 8. Nick Easter Replacements: 16. Jamie George 17. Joe Marler 18. David Wilson 19. George Kruis 20. Tom Wood 21. Richard Wigglesworth 22. Jonathan Joseph 23. Mike Brown
