Rugby World Cup 2015:

In cricket, soccer and now rugby, England's World Cup embarrassment complete...

End of the road: Chris Robshaw of England walks off the pitch, his side out of the World Cup. Photo: Getty Images

Mortifying. England out, three games into their own World Cup, 16 days into the tournament. The bond between team and fans – broken, for now. This event will glide on without Stuart Lancaster's men but there is no disguising the ignominy of what happened here, and against Wales. England were not ready, not clever and not good enough.

No England coach has worked harder than Lancaster to build a team, build an identity. His efforts went far beyond the construction of a 15-man team to function well at rugby. His work took him into the deeper realm of what it means to wear that white shirt: to family, self and country. But all that lay shattered as England were outclassed 33-13 by an Australian side which taught them lessons in almost every department. Especially skill and finishing.

Now the Rugby Football Union must decide whether Lancaster's position is comparable to that of Clive Woodward in 1999 or the end is here for a coach who currently lacks a big-game pedigree.