England Hitback at Carling’s ‘Schoolboy’ Jibes

Martin Corry, captain the last time England were in as deep a World Cup hole as they are now, has told Stuart Lancaster’s team to hold their nerve and not panic.

Wigglesworth continued: “He doesn’t know and hasn’t played the game for how long and hasn’t been involved in professional rugby for how long?”

Wing George North said the prospect of a short turnaround before their next Pool A game against Fiji meant they could not afford to lose concentration. Maybe a few of England’s PR handlers might have held his hand and given him a bit of guidance – to engage the brain before opening the mouth.

He knows what is coming at Twickenham, but insists Australia should also be aware that England will be giving everything in the pursuit of saving their World Cup.

Speaking to the assembled media, Easter issued a rallying cry to his squad ahead of the crunch clash with the Wallabies: “There is no backward step this weekend… there can’t afford to be”.

Only victory in the Pool A showdown will be enough to save England from the embarrassment of becoming the first host nation to exit the tournament at the group phase, a fate made possible by their 28-25 loss to Wales.

But 32-year-old Wigglesworth, who did not name Carling specifically, took exception to the criticism.

“We will have to be at our best because I was impressed by what they did in the Rugby Championship and how much they’ve improved. It’s something which I’ve always kind of done but was magnified on Saturday night”, he added. For the Welsh did, in a few respects, lay down a blueprint to win this competition, although they probably won’t be the ones following that plan through to the very end, given their ever-expanding injury list.

“For us it?s external white noise that is totally irrelevant to what we need to do as a team”.

“It’s not about rallying around Chris, it’s about rallying around each one and making sure we’re going in the right direction”, Youngs said.

We have the players, we have the coaches, we have environment and we have the fans – now the excuses have to stop and we have to get out there and rebuild our World Cup challenge. The players and coaches have to be honest with each other.

That leaves Lancaster’s men needing to beat Australia this Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a quarter-final place and Corry has urged them to remain calm. Wales have got to play Australia and obviously we have got to play Australia.

“We gave a couple of penalties away which allowed Wales to build belief and momentum”. It should have been discussed and coached at the very start of Lancaster’s regime.

“Yet again in the last 15-20 minutes, England didn’t have the 15 players on the park you would want when the pressure is ramped up”.

“I think it is a negative approach, and it is something I learned during my time with England”. Robshaw was at two and then when the transfer came, a phalanx of four players would break off infield, stay on their feet and get momentum to go over the line.