'Nightmare!' - English press react to England's defeat

England players look dejected after their loss to Wales. Photo / Getty

The English press have questioned England coach Stuart Lancaster's tactics after his side's 28-25 loss to Wales this morning.

Lancaster's decisions to make radical changes following their opening win over Fiji have been blamed in some quarters for the loss, including by Matt Dawson on BBC Sport, who also attacked the decision to kick for touch rather than take a shot at goal down three late in the game.

"It is a combination of individual skills and individual decision-making on the pitch. That has let England down. Going for the corner instead of goal. At the minimum, after a bad day at the office, you come away with a result. It was mystifying, as was the indiscipline. Kicking the ball away was mystifying. You have to change your tactics."

Paul Heyward in the Telegraph raised the distinct possibility of the nightmare scenario of a pool play exit taking place.

"The nightmare looms of the hosts crashing out at the pool stage. Unless England can beat Australia here next weekend - and nobody would bet on it, on this display - all that effort, all those high ideals, will be laid to waste.

This was hell for Lancaster. The memory can find no comparable case of an England rugby (or football) coach making such radical changes one game into a World Cup. Especially after a win.

A 12-month policy shift in favour of greater sophistication was abandoned in the face of the Welsh midfield threat. Lancaster refused to see it that way. He cast it as horses for courses. But the knife-edge was all too clear. Victory would have vindicated the meddling. Defeat has cast Lancaster as the coach who ripped up a winning formula, at home, against a team with an injury list as long as the M4. Robshaw's captaincy is also badly battered."

Oliver Holt in the Daily Mail had similar thoughts: "The great dread that has haunted English rugby ever since the draw for the World Cup was made three years ago became a brutal reality on Saturday night. In the biggest game at Twickenham since the 1991 World Cup Final, Stuart Lancaster's great gamble on power over panache backfired and Wales, injury-ravaged but defiant, roared to a memorable victory.

"This was a personal defeat for Lancaster as well as a defeat for England. He had gambled and he had lost. He had made a big call by dropping George Ford and however well his replacement, Owen Farrell, had played, Lancaster's move had not worked. England had lost. That was all that mattered."

Owen Slot in the Times of London also touched on the physicality of the game.

"Massive game, brilliant atmosphere. This was a day for gladiators. Today, the overtime played was nothing to do with tedious TMO decisions, it was almost entirely to do with the medics."

Paul Grayson on BBC Sport blamed England for giving the game away.

"England have only got themselves to blame. They had that game under control. Their destiny was in their hands but they gave away cheap points and handed the initiative back to Wales. England created the scenario where a try would win it for Wales."

However, Eddie Butler in the Guardian had praise for the brave Welsh performance.

"Like the confirmation of an ancient cliche, there is something in the instincts of the Welsh rugby player that allows him to do something ... special. It came from Lloyd Williams, a surprise choice on the bench ahead of Mike Phillips, a scrum-half playing on the left wing in the place of Hallam Amos. Put into space by Jamie Roberts, Williams hugged the touchline and then produced the little moment that will define the rest of his life"