RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie: No “hasty reaction” to England elimination

The 2003 winners’ failure to advance beyond the group stage for the first time left a “sense of deep disappointment”, Ritchie said.

Meanwhile RFU chairman and ex-England captain Bill Beaumont said the players would be more disappointed than anyone else at being knocked out so soon from a World Cup on home soil.

“I remember a similar situation with Martin Johnson, with the experiences he had in the past and playing in three World Cups and obviously going through 2011”.

“The decisions that we make on selection are collective, but ultimately my responsibility”.

Robshaw, appointed by Lancaster, accepted he would be under pressure as well.

He later added: “We feel we have let the country down today and over the course of this tournament – they have given us so much support”. This is going to sit with us all forever – players, coaches, management. Whenever we had a few threat they did the job on that. And while England closed within seven points in the second half, its discipline fell apart again, leaving Australia to enjoy its biggest ever win over England at Twickenham.

“We want everything ticked off so that we can go into the Australia game with a clear mind”.

A week after blowing the match against Wales 28-25 at Twickenham, England had no choice but to beat the Wallabies to stay in the playoffs hunt, but couldn’t survive the toughest pool in tournament history.

“That’ll be the overriding emotion I’ll have for a long time I think”.

Gatland said knowing his team had already qualified for the next stage would allow them to “take the shackles off” when they play against the Wallabies.

Australia coach Michael Cheika insisted there was no room for complacency following the win.

They looked shell-shocked as though the whole week, the enormity of the defeat against Wales, the emotional toll meant that it was a really back-foot performance.

“It is just about ourselves at the moment and trying to improve on that”, said Cheika. We will be asking for more of that as we go along.

“From my point of view, my priority is to get the team ready for (the last Pool A game against) Uruguay“.

The Springboks were shamed by Japan 34-32 in their first game but have won twice since and now appear favourites to top the table and get an easier quarter final opponent.

For good measure the Wallabies also set about destroying the English scrum, sending it rocking back to gasps from the Twickenham faithful, as even that last refuge of superiority was routed.

He extended the lead to 17 points with a penalty soon after, before Anthony Watson got England back into the game with a strong try in the 56th.

South Africa will take on the United States on 7 October at the Olympic Stadium in their final pool game.

England World Cup-winning flanker Lewis Moody agreed wholeheartedly that Lancaster should be retained and hopes the RFU learns from its mistakes of the recent past.