SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

Huge stakes for Lancaster in Aust match

England coach Stuart Lancaster admits his job is on the line as his side face a must-win Rugby World Cup clash with Australia.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster.
England coach Stuart Lancaster admits his job is on the line when his team clash with Australia. (AAP)

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Stuart Lancaster has accepted his entire England tenure could rest on Saturday's decisive World Cup clash with Australia.

The coach has restored fit-again Jonathan Joseph to the centres at the expense of Sam Burgess, who drops to the bench, for the pivotal Pool A contest at Twickenham.

Lancaster conceded England must win to avoid the earliest exit of any World Cup hosts in history, before shouldering extra pressure on his own future.

When asked on Thursday if his entire time with England hangs on this week following the 28-25 defeat to Wales, Lancaster said: "I think that's fair to say."

"It's a must-win game because if we lose we don't get out of the group. So there's no point hiding where the accountability lies," he said.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

"As a head coach you don't take the players beyond Saturday, you take them to Saturday. You put them in the right place to play a strong game on Saturday.

"There's no denying it, the stakes are huge for us, but the boys will be ready."

Lancaster said he wasn't looking beyond Saturday.

"You can't spend your time thinking about what's happened in the past or what might happen in the future. If you distract yourself with the what-ifs then you aren't doing your job.

"It was a big blow to lose Jonathan Joseph last week, he's hard to replace. To have him back in the team is a real positive.

"I still had my fingers crossed in the fitness test yesterday, but he's ready to play."

Joseph has recovered from the pectoral muscle problem that kept him out of last weekend's crushing loss to Wales just in time to resume his midfield partnership with Brad Barritt.

Barritt steps back into the 12 shirt, after criticism for his errant showing at outside centre against Wales.

Owen Farrell starts again at five-eighth, with Ben Morgan slotting in at No.8.

Joe Launchbury partners Geoff Parling at lock, with halfback Ben Youngs fit to continue after an ankle knock.

Nick Easter is on the bench in favour of James Haskell, with George Kruis covering lock from the replacements for England.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world