Media slams humbled hosts
LONDON: Newspapers bemoaned the ‘End of the World’ yesterday after England’s humiliating early exit from the Rugby World Cup at Australia’s hands.
The Mail on Sunday’s back page headline also featured a picture of England captain Chris Robshaw down on one knee and gasping for breath and another of Prince Harry with his hands to his face in disbelief at the magnitude of the 33-13 hammering by Australia.
Newspapers targeted Robshaw and England coach Stuart Lancaster.
The Daily Star Sunday went for a “Lancaster’s Bombers” play on words linked to the coach and the Royal Air Force’s World War II bomber planes.
The Independent on Sunday’s front page had a photo of Robshaw — who will be fortunate to survive any post-World Cup cull — striding off the pitch hands on hips, with his shattered troops spread around the field, and the headline ‘England Regrets’.
“Heartbreak for the knocked-out host nation as Australia storm to victory,” read a sub-heading.
Their backpage carried the headline ‘Down and Out’ with a photo of Wallaby players congratulating each other with Robshaw down on his hands and knees and his face in agonised distress.
“Humiliated England become first hosts to go out of World Cup at group stage as Aussies dominate at Twickenham,” the newspaper said.
Robshaw’s features were plastered all over the sports pages. The Sunday Times published a picture of him looking shocked and with his hand clasped to his head.
“World Cup agony as England crash out of the World Cup at Twickenham,” said the headline.
The Sunday Telegraph was a little less forgiving posting a front page photo of Robshaw — this time his right hand clutched to his left shoulder — and the title “dream of a nation is over”.
Its sports supplement carried a photo of Robshaw staring glassy-eyed into the distance with one arm on his knee and the headline “Humiliated on home turf”.
“Wallabies race to their biggest win at Twickenham and consign Lancaster’s men to embarrassing exit,” the Telegraph said.
The Sunday Express gave Robshaw a miss and posted a picture of Prince Harry with the caption: ‘Harry’s England heartache’.
Maenwhile England coach Stuart Lancaster said yesterday a decision on his future will only be taken after the final pool game against Uruguay on Saturday.
“All things are being considered,” Lancaster said, “but not for now, for me”.
Lancaster’s employers have also ruled out any knee-jerk reaction.
“I would like to stress there will be no hasty reaction to England’s performance in this World Cup,” said Ian Ritchie, chief executive of England’s Rugby Football Union.
“Lessons will be learnt in a calm and thorough manner in the fullness of time, post-tournament.”
Lancaster took full-time charge of England in 2012 and signed a new six-year deal last year.