The Rugby Football Union has denied approaching Nick Mallett

All of this should have been sorted out long before a World Cup started.

That condemned them to a first group-stage exit, prompting calls for a review into the debacle and for coach Stuart Lancaster to be replaced. Know when you’re in the heat of pressure what you’re going to do. We are animals, we know how to survive. Twelve months ago the Wales scrum was so dominant against the Wallabies that they won the Welsh a penalty try. It’s a coach behind the scenes who has proved to perhaps be the most important figure for Australia.

Burgess is a great player, but at a different code of rugby. “World Rugby is investigating an alleged breach by the England coaching team of the match-day communications protocol between match officials and team members or union officials”, said a World Rugby statement released Monday. Luther Burrell had earned his stripes to get into the squad.

Having been criticised in the defeat to Wales for sacrificing playmakers in favour of rugged, defensive bruisers, Lancaster has gone to the other end of the spectrum with an exciting looking backline.

Question marks now surround Lancaster’s future and I’m not sure whether or not he should keep his job. England team: 1-Mako Vunipola, 2-Tom Youngs, 3-Dan Cole, 4-Joe Launchbury, 5-Geoff Parling, 6-James Haskell, 7-Chris Robshaw (captain), 8-Nick Easter; 9-Danny Care, 10-George Ford, 11-Jack Nowell, 12-Owen Farrell, 13-Henry Slade, 14-Anthony Watson, 15-Alex Goode.

“There’s a little bit of assassination by the media”, Gatland told reporters at Wales’ training base in Weybridge, near London, on Thursday.

Elsewhere, I thought South Africa were outstanding against Scotland and, after their aberration at the hands of Japan, they could be surprise finalists. There were so many players who could pipe up and offer simple but necessary instructions.

ENGLAND coach Stuart Lancaster said he expected cross-code convert Sam Burgess to stay in rugby union amid speculation that Burguess could return to rugby league with Leeds Rhinos. “I remember one particular game in 2002 against Australia at Twickenham”. I do not understand our mindset that night.

“When we went to Argentina on tour we played in Uruguay and it was a really tough game (so) it will be very similar. They’re a good defensive unit and incredibly strong on attack, but we think there’s a few opportunities to attack as well”.

“I’m not going to consider it. I was keen for the challenge in 2011, but not anymore”.