RFU: No hasty reaction after Rugby World Cup exit

Foley said he hoped the impressive slaying of their fierce rivals would kick-start the Wallabies’ campaign. Fly-half Bernard Foley’s 28 point haul was the highest by an Australian against England.

The win is Australia’s first over England at a World Cup since the 1991 final at Twickenham, and goes a few way towards avenging quarter-final losses in 1995 and 2007 – not to mention the 2003 final. Who will finish top of Pool A will be decided when the teams meet on 10 October at Twickenham.

Foley scores his second converted try of the night to leave England with the mammoth task of needing to overcome their biggest ever deficit after the interval.

Chris Robshaw has said he is preparing for a week of “tough questions” after England’s early exit from the Rugby World Cup was confirmed by Australia.

The position of Ritchie himself is equally precarious having appointed Lancaster and taken the bold step 12 months ago of awarding him and his lieutenants new contracts to run until 2020 despite the failure to win any silverware of note.

“All things are being considered, but not for now for me”. That’s just ridiculous as far as I am concerned. “The responsibility and accountability lies with me” added Lancaster.

“There was so much anticipation and the guys have put so much work in”.

Robshaw accepted he would be under pressure as well. “Australia have done us a massive favour but I felt with 15-20 minutes to go, it was like sitting in the (coaches’) box myself because you are going through the emotions of what the coaches are doing”, Gatland said. At a canter, Australia captain Stephen Moore led his team out first, as England calmly strolled on to the pitch. “We can take a lot of confidence out of the match against England for next week against Wales”.

Henry said Australia had shown they were genuine contenders for the title after fixing the scrummaging problems that have been their Achilles’ heel for so long.

That momentum was killed off however when a tackle off the ball from Farrell meant that he would spend the last ten minutes of the game in the sin bin, and with their opponents down to 14 men, Australia duly finished the job. “It is a decision about what is best for English rugby and what will allow us to win games”, Carling told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme.

Australia’s defensive strength during England’s brief comeback impressed Giteau.

“I know it’s tough but our intent is certainly not to do that, it was purely to get four points to try to get through the pool”.

The winners are likely to secure a last-eight clash against Scotland or Japan, while the losers face a probable appointment with South Africa. His tenure as England boss has been solid up until this point and, as such, he deserves to be afforded the opportunity to take this side forward.

The management’s decision to fast-track Sam Burgess into the World Cup squad and matchday 23 when all evidence suggested he was not ready was also divisive.

“There are other people outside this who need to have a look at themselves and why those decisions were made and you have got to feel sorry for the people involved and who this has affected”.