Set up to fail? Where England's World Cup campaign went wrong
Summary
England’s men beat Papua New Guinea 34-12 but did not win by enough to avoid likely elimination from the Rugby League World Cup; their exit would be confirmed if Tonga did not beat Samoa by more than 46 points. England’s women lost 24-6 to Samoa and missed the semi-finals, while the men’s campaign was affected by a late coaching appointment, limited preparation and difficult travel.Key Facts
- England’s men needed a larger winning margin against Papua New Guinea to stay in contention and won 34-12.
- The men’s elimination would be confirmed unless Tonga beat Samoa by more than 46 points.
- England’s women lost 24-6 to Samoa in a match that decided semi-final qualification.
- If both teams are eliminated, neither England’s men nor women will reach the last four for the first time in World Cup history.
- Brian McDermott became England men’s head coach in April, about six months before the tournament, and had no mid-season international to prepare the team.
- England planned four on-field training sessions in Australia but completed only two in full after UK-based players endured a 48-hour journey to Perth.
- England lost its opening match to Tonga 30-12, leaving little margin for error in the tournament format.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
