TalkSport presenter calls for “re-think” at England after they get it “terribly wrong when it mattered so much”

Whenever a team crashes out of a World Cup, there is an inquest of sorts into why that happened.

Even more so in a home World Cup and especially when you’ve had a terrific tournament until reaching the biggest game.

That’s what happened to England yesterday in the eyes of many. After blowing Samoa away in the opening game 60-6, England laid down a number of markers between that win and a rematch with Samoa in the semi-final and could have even been described as the tournament’s in form team.

However, they fell below their lofty standards yesterday and lost to Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

That was true of the whole game but especially Golden Point in which two costly England errors saw Stephen Crichton notch the winning drop goal for Samoa.

After the game TalkSport’s Adrian Durham who is highly regarded in the football world and a Hull FC fan and lover of rugby league took to Twitter to give his verdict.

He noted that he was gutted but questioned how “high calibre staff and players” got it wrong when it mattered the most describing Golden Point as “a mess” and saying that a “re-think” is needed at England.

“Not sure I’ve ever felt more gutted as an RL fan,” he said, “How could so many high calibre staff and players get it so terribly wrong today when it mattered so much? Golden Point ET was a mess. Re think needed at England RL.”

Not sure I've ever felt more gutted as an RL fan. How could so many high calibre staff and players get it so terribly wrong today when it mattered so much? Golden Point ET was a mess. Re think needed at @England_RL

— Adrian Durham (@TheAdrianDurham) November 12, 2022