At the time I was young and believed I still had a career, so I got ready for the next club game for Bath to press my case for England selection to make sure I stayed in the side.
If we’d had a whole summer to replay that final in our minds there’s a good chance it would have worn us down, but I cannot remember whether there was a review in 1991, and I do not recall being asked about the experience.
These reviews can do as much harm as good, as was shown when the 2015 post-World Cup review was leaked. Once the trust in a process has been breached there will always be a concern among players of leaks, and so they are likely to be more guarded in what they say.
The good news is that like the 1991 England players, the 2019 squad are straight back into the club scene, and many of them have found they are immediately involved in a relegation battle. This time that involves Saracens, the club with the most England regulars, while their big rivals, Exeter, have to get used to carrying the tag of being favourites to win the league.
For most of the current England squad being back with their clubs means the World Cup is already long gone – as it was for us.
Those who will be dwelling on it more are the England coaches and management, because they have to act on it.
Part of that has been done in public already, because Eddie Jones made the bold decision to bring out a book straight after the World Cup in which he made some commments about selection for the final – which included the admission that he should have made changes to the starting fifteen.
In the book he reflected at one stage that he stirred controversy over the last four years because he kept putting his foot in his mouth, and it made me think that those selection comments about Mako Vunipola and George Ford were more of the same.
Denne historien er fra December 22, 2019-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra December 22, 2019-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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England show who's No.1
ENGLAND women’s head coach John Mitchell says his side will take valuable lessons from the 24-12 win over world champions New Zealand as they build towards their WXV1 title defence.
Skivington: We're going to roll dice and go for it
THE Cherry and Whites are the enigmas of the Premiership.
Looking to go one step beyond this time around
NE small step is what it will take for Bath to go one better than last season and secure the Premiership for the first time, but it would be one of the biggest taken by the club in the professional era.
Four-try England make it 17 wins on the spin
ENGLAND women opened the Allianz Stadium era at HQ with a victory over New Zealand to make it 17 wins on the bounce before their WXV title defence.
Time for Borthwick to prove his worth
HONEYMOON periods are not set in stone and in my estimation Steve Borthwick’s ends this summer. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still in good shape.
Barrington ready to power up the Mob
RICHARD Barrington has signed up to the Ampthill “Mob” reassured that he’ll still have a target on his back most weeks.
Skivington keen to build identity
GLOUCESTER won their first trophy for nine years last season and reached the Challenge Cup final, but when George Skivington went on holiday the day after the campaign ended the words in his head were never again.
Roebuck targets England success
WINNING a maiden England Test cap to top the best season of his career will not be enough for Sale winger Tom Roebuck.
Booth: Tough telling players I was leaving
TOBY Booth admits telling his Ospreys players that he would be leaving at the end of the season was one of the hardest things he has had to do in his career.
Stephens' debut try sees off old rivals
DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice and result in doubt right up to the final whistle.
