Tonight was the night that this year’s Rugby World Cup hosts England finally bid farewell to their hopes and aspirations for the tournament as they ran in a convincing 60-3 victory over bottom of Pool A Uruguay at the City of Manchester Stadium.
After some back-to-back disappointing defeats to Australia and Wales, a new group of youngsters emerged on the field in place of the old guard and looked to impress the management team, who themselves are also fighting for their jobs.
Below, we discuss the five things we learned from England’s final game at the 2015 Rugby World Cup:
1) The future is bright
Head coach Stuart Lancaster did not hold back in ringing the changes and the decision to introduce eight players while four of them were handed their maiden World Cup starts paid off as the side cast away the shadows left hanging from the last two defeats.
A new look back line including the likes of Henry Slade, Jack Nowell, Danny Care and Alex Goode highlighted the level o skill available at the hands of the selectors as the visitors were unable to compete with the fluidity of the young English line.
But the changes in the forwards also solidified the pack following the added experience of James Haskell and Nick Easter for Tom Wood and Ben Morgan in the back line whilst the inclusion of Mako Vunipola adding brute strength to a scrum which faced few issues during the 80 minutes.
And it was the performances of a number of new faces that provided the difference on the night with both Easter and Nowell scoring hat-tricks whilst Slade also got his name on the scoresheet alongside two tries from Anthony Watson saw Lancaster’s side secure a bonus-point victory in what was nothing more than a victory to restore pride to the hosts.
2) Sam Burgess is unlikely to keep his place in the squad
Following a disappointing performance in his only start against Wales, Lancaster decided to drop the former Rugby League star from his matchday squad altogether in favour of Exeter Chiefs star Slade and many will now believe that it was a justified decision following the 22-year-old’s impressive performance tonight.
The decision to even include Burgess in the World Cup squad was hotly debated by many as he had only made his transition from League to Union in January and was yet to establish himself at his club side Bath, who had on a number of occasions experimented in playing him at centre and in the back row.
Ultimately, the decision to include Burgess at the expense of Luther Burrell proved to be the wrong one as he struggled to make an impact – unlike the one of Slade tonight, in any of his five appearances for the national team and will instead only be remembered for his yellow card on his debut against France.
3) England have solved the puzzle surrounding the number 10 shirt
The battle of the fly-halves has proven to be one of the most interesting debates surrounding the squad selections and it has become the first name that fans and followers across the nation have cast their eyes to first.
Owen Farrell and George Ford have once again relight a fiery rivalry that has been ongoing since the two were 14-years-old and in school together, but despite many believing that the Saracens number 10 gains an unfair advantage with his father in the management team, in recent months Ford has comfortably claimed the starting berth as his own – to the point that Farrell’s selection at 10 against Wales being heavily criticised.
But tonight Lancaster made the bold decision to play the two together with Farrell moving to inside-centre in the absence of injured Brad Barritt whilst Ford returned to fly-half and in adding the fine footballing skills of Slade England were fantastic when moving the ball-in-hand and were able to carve out a number of opportunities for the wingers to get themselves on the scoresheet.
The quality of kicking also proved to be the difference as Farrell slotted four conversions whilst Ford took over the responsibilities to convert the last try in the absence of Farrell who was replaced by Jonathan Joseph.
And now that England have found one possible solution for the number 10 shirt the possibilities that can now be explored with a variety of options between 10, 12 and 13 there is much to be excited about as England look to move on following a disappointing tournament.
4) It is time for Stuart Lancaster to move on
Here at Read Rugby Union we have often debated the impact that Stuart Lancaster has had during his tenure with the national team and following a disappointing World Cup campaign on home turf, we have come to the agreement that it is time for England to be taken in another direction than that of what Lancaster is currently offering.
But, there is no doubt that we cannot offer our appreciation for the hard work that the 45-year-old former Leeds player has done in rebuilding the team following a disappointing 2011 World Cup campaign under Martin Johnson where an ageing side fell to eventual runners-up France in the quarter-finals.
After being initially appointed as an interim head coach as the RFU looked into other possibilities, Lancaster was given the role after impressing with a reinvented side that finished second in the RBS Six Nations to Grand Slam winners Wales and also managed to secure a 38-21 victory over the World Champions New Zealand during the 2012 Autumn Internationals.
Lancaster has never been one to shy away from contentious decisions during his tenure as he has always insisted on his players being good role models following the much reported off-field antics of the squad during the 2011 World Cup, but in the end his failure to exceed his four consecutive second-placed finishes at the Six Nations and a shocking first ever group stage elimination at a World Cup has left the Cumbrian teetering dangerously close to the edge.
5) England still have a reason to smile
Despite the premature elimination and the players admittedly playing in a game that meant little, there was still a sense of optimism in the Manchester air as the starting XV and replacements seemed to be enjoying themselves on the pitch with a great sense of unity amongst a young squad that still promises a lot.
Both before and after the game the players and management staff looked relaxed and when interviewed after the game, both Nowell and Care admitted that they were pleased that they could go out with their heads held high.
It is perhaps the best approach the current squad can take into the situation that is undoubtedly going to unfold over the coming weeks as inquests will be made into why squad failed to meet expectations and there is even the possibility that some players may never line up alongside each other for the national side again.
England have yet to reach the emphatic heights that saw them lift the Webb Ellis trophy and Six Nations in 2003 – coming closest after losing in the 2007 World Cup final to South Africa.
And added to the fact that they have also only managed to win the Six Nations once in 2011 since their double feat in 2003 patience will undoubtedly be beginning to wear thin after coming so close in the last four years.
And with bowing out of the tournament on such an emphatic win against Uruguay the group of players will be able to leave with at least some dignity as they return to their club sides and preparations begin for the 2016 RBS Six Nations.
