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RWC Fives: Worst England Defeats

After last weekend, what else could we have chosen for our Rugby World Cup ‘fives’? Fans are still reeling from England’s knock-out blow from Australia, but there have been worse days. Or have there?

2015 – England 13 Australia 33

Twickenham, England

It may still be raw, but this was surely the worst England loss in Rugby World Cup history.

In an all-or-nothing match on home ground, optimists went into the game knowing that if England won they’d most likely get through to the knockout stages. Pessimists looked at the other side of the coin: lose and they’re out.

That pre-match nervousness, which snowballed in the seven days since the side threw away victory against Wales, won out in the end.

England, at times, were literally left standing as a mighty Australian side tore them apart. Bernard Foley produced some magic to lead his side into the quarter-finals with Michael Hooper and David Pocock the heroes.

England were, in truth, beaten by a far better side. But the simple fact is they have become the first hosts to be knocked out at the Pool stage – and it doesn’t get much more depressing than that.

2011 – England 12 France 19

Eden Park, New Zealand

England’s squad was severely exposed on a frightful night in Auckland, when a troubled World Cup campaign on and off the field ended with quarter-final defeat to the French.

Under-performing France had scraped into the knockout stages despite some abysmal performances of their own – but England stepped down, not up, to match that lowly level with an array of basic errors.

France led 16-0 as England failed to get going and were second best across the park. Second-half tries from Ben Foden and Mark Cueto saved a few England blushes but failed to save their World Cup or Martin Johnson’s job.

1995 – England 29 New Zealand 45

Cape Town, South Africa

It wasn’t that England were so bad in this World Cup semi-final, it was more that they had no answer to mighty New Zealand winger Jonah Lomu. And that he totally demolished them.

The giant All Black ran rampage, trampling over or through England players as if they weren’t there – including captain Will Carling, Tony Underwood, Mike Catt and Rob Andrew.

Lomu scored four tries and number eight Zinzan Brooke added to the embarrassment with a drop goal. England did outscore New Zealand in the second-half but the damage was already done on a day to forget.

2007 – England 0 South Africa 36

Paris, France

The first - and still only - time England have been kept pointless in a Rugby World Cup game, this shameful defeat in Paris came in the Pool stage.

South Africa were dominant as they ran in three unanswered tries, all converted, and scored a further five penalties. It was England’s first World Cup defeat since 1999, having been crowned champions in 2003.

In this case, however, the defeat was early enough in the tournament for England to recover – and the woeful defeat did not prevent England making a successful recovery to reach the World Cup Final.

They failed to become the first back-to-back winners of the Webb Ellis Cup, however, as they lost again to the Springboks 15-6 in the decider.

1987 – England 3 Wales 16

Brisbane, Australia

In the first-ever Rugby World Cup, England failed to turn up in the quarter-finals as they went down to Wales. It was so bad the game was branded “the worst game seen in the inaugural competition”.

England could muster only a solitary penalty from Jonathan Webb as they exited the tournament in a whimper. Gareth Roberts, Robert Jones and John Devereux tries were enough to send Wales into the semi-finals.