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| Six Nations record unacceptable but we can win World Cup, says England chief | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| England’s fourth successive Six Nations runners-up finish is unacceptable but Stuart Lancaster’s side can still triumph at the World Cup on home soil, the Rugby Football Union chief executive, Ian Ritchie, has said. | England’s fourth successive Six Nations runners-up finish is unacceptable but Stuart Lancaster’s side can still triumph at the World Cup on home soil, the Rugby Football Union chief executive, Ian Ritchie, has said. |
| England finished behind Ireland by a difference of six points despite a thrilling 55-35 victory over France at Twickenham on Saturday. | England finished behind Ireland by a difference of six points despite a thrilling 55-35 victory over France at Twickenham on Saturday. |
| “Four years as runners-up is not acceptable and we are not happy with how that came about,” Ritchie said. “If you go back through history, bearing in mind a lot of things, we should be, as a country, winning more in terms of grand slams, Six Nations Championships, other things. | “Four years as runners-up is not acceptable and we are not happy with how that came about,” Ritchie said. “If you go back through history, bearing in mind a lot of things, we should be, as a country, winning more in terms of grand slams, Six Nations Championships, other things. |
| “The Irish deserved the win because of what they did over the five matches. We did not do enough over the five matches. There’s no point in bleating about it. | “The Irish deserved the win because of what they did over the five matches. We did not do enough over the five matches. There’s no point in bleating about it. |
| “We simply didn’t take opportunities, didn’t do what we should have done, were not clever enough during parts of the game in order to deserve to win.” | “We simply didn’t take opportunities, didn’t do what we should have done, were not clever enough during parts of the game in order to deserve to win.” |
| England’s attentions now turn to the World Cup, where they have been drawn in Pool A alongside Wales and the twice former champions Australia. | England’s attentions now turn to the World Cup, where they have been drawn in Pool A alongside Wales and the twice former champions Australia. |
| England begin their World Cup campaign against Fiji on 18 September at Twickenham and Ritchie is confident. | England begin their World Cup campaign against Fiji on 18 September at Twickenham and Ritchie is confident. |
| “Are we in the frame enough to win it? Yes,” Ritchie said. “I think we’ve got enough talent now, I think we’ll have more talent coming back in when we get to September and I’ve got to think and believe – and I know the team and Stuart believe – that we can win this. | “Are we in the frame enough to win it? Yes,” Ritchie said. “I think we’ve got enough talent now, I think we’ll have more talent coming back in when we get to September and I’ve got to think and believe – and I know the team and Stuart believe – that we can win this. |
| “We should be able to win it. Will we do it? That depends on our application and execution. It’s frankly as simple as that.” | “We should be able to win it. Will we do it? That depends on our application and execution. It’s frankly as simple as that.” |