Rugby World Cup: Sam Burgess focus of blame as England count cost of early tournament exit

THREE weeks ago Sam Burgess was being lauded as the spearhead of his country’s Rugby World Cup campaign. Now, he is copping blame as England’s dreams lie in tatters.

Rugby Union - England v Australia - IRB Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool A - Twickenham Stadium, London, England - 3/10/15 England's Chris Robshaw and Sam Burgess look dejected Reuters / Stefan Wermuth Livepic

THREE weeks ago rugby league convert Sam Burgess was being lauded as the spearhead of his country’s Rugby World Cup campaign. Now, he is copping the blame as England’s dreams lie in tatters.

As recriminations began in the UK following England’s loss to the Wallabies, claims have surfaced of a split in the team caused by the inclusion of Burgess and the influence of assistant coach Andy Farrell.

LISTEN:England have been brushed aside, now for Wales. With the finals approaching, Mike Colman and Iain Payten have their say on the Wallabies.

English media outlets have reported that some players felt that Farrell had too great a say in selections, and that he pressured coach Stuart Lancaster to include the inexperienced Burgess, leading to unrest within the squad.

Sam Burgess has been roundly criticised in the English media.

HELL AND DEATH: Gatland’s novel view of tough pool

CHASTENED ENGLAND: ‘we’re sorry we’ve let everyone down’

FOLEY SHOW: Wallabies record-breaker silences Quade fans

WALES FOCUS: Wallabies not slowing down after England win

NO REST: Cheika sticking with first-choice playes for Wales

Lancaster was quick to try to dispel the rumours, saying at the post-match press conference, “Let’s put that one to bed to start with. The decisions we make on selection are collective and they’re ultimately mine and my responsibility. There’s no division in the coaching team.”

Even so, the selection of Burgess on the back of just one Test match against France was highly contentious, with many experts, including England’s 2003 World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward and former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, saying the South Sydney Rabbitohs premiership-winner was not up to the job.

It is believed Farrell, himself an ex-rugby league player, was a big supporter of Burgess, who was chosen ahead of more experienced rugby internationals Luther Burrell – who didn’t even make the squad - and Henry Slade who was unused in the first three matches.

Burgess started in England’s crucial loss to Wales – forcing his centre partner Brad Barritt to play out of position - and was lucky to stay on the field when used as a late replacement against the Wallabies.

World Cup winner Michael Lynagh, now a commentator with the host broadcaster, was adamant that Burgess should have joined Farrell’s son Owen in the sin-bin for a blatant head-high tackle on Michael Hooper.

The Farrell-Burgess factor was one of several theories being highlighted on a day of shock in London, with England becoming the first host nation to fail to make the knock-out stages of the tournament.

The lack of a home team in the “business end” of the competition is expected to have a calamitous effect, with England fans unlikely to retain interest, leading to massive drops in TV advertising revenues, merchandise and hotel takings and the possibility of match tickets flooding back onto the market.

Michael Lynagh says Sam Burgess should have been sent to the sin bin against Australia.

Lancaster was quick to take responsibility for his team’s poor showing and the calls for his sacking began almost before French referee Romain Poite had finished blowing full-time.

The BBC made the point that England coach Peter Moores had lost his job when his team suffered a similar fate at the cricket World Cup in May and Lancaster should expect the same, but as 2003 World Cup winner Neil Back said, “when you make a change you have to have a replacement in mind, and England doesn’t have one.”

In fact, Lancaster was initially appointed only as an interim coach when Martin Johnson was sacked following a disastrous 2011 World Cup.

While he has not managed to win a major tournament, Lancaster’s team has shown signs of improvement over the past four years and with a young core group, there are calls for him to be allowed to take them on to the next World Cup in Japan.

It was a decision New Zealand Rugby took, sticking with Graham Henry despite calls for his sacking after the All Blacks failed at the 2007 World Cup. Four years later, they lifted the Cup in Auckland.

Among those calling for calm over Lancaster’s future was Jonny Wilkinson, who famously kicked the field goal to beat Australia in the 2003 final.

“The same thing applied to Clive and us in 1999,” he said.

Moments like these were few and far between for Sam Burgess and England.

“You can’t beat time. Experience does matter and you have to go through stuff to get it. You need to learn. You need time, but you need to stick together.”

Wilkinson knows what he is talking about. In 1998 he was part of Woodward’s team beaten 76-0 by Australia. Five years later Wilkinson was the most famous rugby player in the world, and Clive was Sir Clive.

But as one media expert pointed out in the aftermath of English rugby’s darkest night, “Stuart Lancaster is not Graham Henry”.

He’s not Clive Woodward either.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: Sam Burgess focus of blame as England count cost of early tournament exit