LYDIA LET MIDDLETON DOWN

ANYTHING less than returning with the trophy was considered a failure for England’s women at the Rugby World Cup, so it is no surprise that coach Simon Middleton is under scrutiny. It is hard to see what more he could have done in the final, however, given the complete technical catastrophe of Lydia Thompson’s tackle on Portia Woodman of New Zealand, so poorly executed that it ended in a headbutt. Her red card changed the game but it shouldn’t be allowed to erase the excellence of the previous 30-match unbeaten run under Middleton. Unless, of course, coaches should spend the week building up to a final giving experienced internationals refresher lessons in how to play.