AS an avid rugby fan (both league and union), it beggars belief that the media seem to blaming England's exit from the World Cup on the selection of ex-league star Sam Burgess.
In my opinion, four main reasons stand out for England's failure :
1. The flawed decision not to go for three points at the end of the Wales' game as a draw in that match would still have given England a real chance of progression, even with a defeat against Australia.
2. The so-called 'experienced' England forwards continually giving penalties away at scrums and mauls.
3. The wholescale substitutions after 50/60/70 minutes of each game which surely must disrupt any form of planning
4. The coach's constantly-changing team selection in the run-up games to the World Cup.
To blame the inclusion of one player who appeared as a substitute in two of the games is just unbelievable.
How about the decision to place three of the world's top sides in the same group when the draw was made in December 2012 (almost three years ago). Imagine the outcry if the Football World Cup draw for Russia 2018 was made this coming December.
Will Carling's famous quote of 'boring old farts' comes readily to mind.
Paul Turgoose,
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