Murray Kinsella reports from Twickenham
STUART LANCASTER WALKED into the press conference room just outside Twickenham and he knew the question was coming.
England out of the World Cup after two losses at their home ground, the first World Cup host nation not to make it beyond the pool stages. Lancaster was booed on the pitch after tonight’s defeat to Australia. He knew the question was coming.
It was the first one, no beating around the bush in London.
Stuart, it’s a painful question but will you consider your position?
Yeah, yeah, obviously I’ve got to,” said Lancaster. “It’s not going to be my decision but it’s not one for now. We’ve got another week to go, we’ve got to get up to Manchester and put in a good performance against Uruguay.
“As I said during the week, the responsibility and the accountability lies with me.”
Lancaster’s current contract runs until 2020.
Second question for captain Chris Robshaw, sitting alongside his head coach with head bowed.
Chris it’s equally painful, but would you consider your position as well?
“I think this week we have had to answer some tough questions,” said Robshaw. “At the moment I’m just truly gutted. Myself and all the other players feel like we let a lot of people down today. Their support has been outstanding.
Unfortunately we’ve come up short and I think the better team probably won. They put us under a lot of pressure in all facets of the game and unfortunately it wasn’t to be.”
Lancaster did also underline how impressive the Wallabies had been.
“From my point of view and Chris’ as well, we’re absolutely gutted to be going out of a World Cup, more so our World Cup. Words can’t express how gutted we are and we’ve got some fantastic supporters,we feel we’ve let them down.
“Credit to Australia, I thought they were the best team we’ve played in the last 18 months.”
Big ups for Cheika, but Lancaster’s world looks like being a painful one in the coming days.
