CHRIS ROBSHAW’S 05 BAD CALL
England, as hosts of the 2015 World Cup, were under enormous pressure to succeed. They had played well in the four-year cycle, beating the All Blacks and enjoying a couple of Six Nations titles along the way, too.
A nation expected and making things tougher was the pool England were drawn in. They had Australia, Wales and Fiji.
The popular money was on Wales and Fiji to come up short and when Fiji were handed a ridiculous schedule that saw them have to play three games in 12 days...they sure enough fell to three defeats.
The first ‘super’ big game in the pool was between England and Wales at Twickenham. The hosts were in control for most of the first half, but Wales mounted a strong final quarter to score a spectacular long range try, with Dan Biggar then kicking a huge penalty to put them three ahead with minutes remaining.
England, though, won a penalty just outside the Welsh 22, five metres in from touch. Owen Farrell had been kicking brilliantly, and while it was a hard angle, he probably would have nailed it given his form.
But captain Chris Robshaw opted to put the ball in the corner and try to drive the lineout over for a try and victory.
England won the lineout, but were then driven into touch by the Welsh and that was it. England had thrown away the chance of a draw that may have kept them in the tournament. A week later Australia easily beat them and the hosts were out before the knockout rounds.
“You look at the way the game turned out and if we had drawn what would have happened,” said Robshaw later that year. “If you had that time machine you probably would [go for the posts] but unfortunately we don’t and you just have to get on. I accept responsibility for that.”
He was dropped as captain and coach Stuart Lancaster fired.