Sir Gareth Edwards: ‘England panic led to defeat against Wales’

Lancaster reshuffled his side in an attempt to nullify Wales, including the introduction of Owen Farrell for George Ford, but they ultimately came up short against their Pool A rivals who snatched a 28-25 victory.

England’s Tom Youngs during a press conference at Pennyhill Park, Bagshot. Center Scott Williams, winger Hallam Amos, and fullback Liam Williams all went off injured between the 63rd and 67th minutes, leaving the Welsh with a makeshift backline that had been ravaged by injury before the tournament through the last-minute withdrawals of Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb. “I spoke to the kickers and we decided it was a tough kick and that we wanted to go for the win”.

The decision was made and England prepared to play for the try instead of a drop-goal, but the plan unraveled from the line-out when possession was lost, to doom them to defeat. All that mixed in makes the victory even more special. Its great if you score and if you don’t its a big moment. “People have criticized our training schedule, but they are so wrong. We did lose one of our best players”. “It is all or nothing for us”.

From the euphoria of the 2015 Rugby World Cup opening last week to the disbelief as Wales mounted an astonishing comeback to beat England in their own back yard.

“There was definitely contact between part of Tom Wood’s body and Liam’s head”. “It is something we are going to look at, with regards to citing”.

“I’m very convinced we can still make the quarter-finals”.

With no bonus point against Fiji, a loss to England could potentially see – with other points scenarios also unfolding in the pool – the Wallabies having to beat Wales a week later with a bonus point to go through. I don’t think I have shown as much emotion in 80 minutes as I did today.

“We have to feel sorry for ourselves for 24 hours, take time to grieve and then on Monday everyone has to get up and say “right, we have got Australia”, that is a must win, nearly with a bonus point”, World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward said post-match.

“We do have quite a long turnaround between the Fiji game and the Australia game” on October 10, “so the boys will get rested next weekend”.

“He has to put confidence in the team and give them to courage to go out and play. We’ve got a huge challenge in Australia and we have to move on pretty quickly”. Gatland looked a anxious by the end of the first half but he needn’t have been.

Wales’ Scott Williams is stretchered off the pitch during the Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, London, Saturday, September 26, 2015. A country is behind them.

Fiji, who stunned Wales 38-34 in the 2007 World Cup, were punished 66-0 when they met again four years later, and McKee said they are well aware of what to expect.

Robshaw admitted responsibility. “The call came down to myself”, he said.