1) Lancaster unlikely to be handed reprieve
Stuart Lancaster always knew what the score would be if England bowed out of their own World Cup in the pool stages. His worst-case scenario has duly unfolded, just as it did for Martin Johnson in slightly different circumstances four years ago. There are still those who insist Johnson should have been reappointed, on the basis Sir Clive Woodward and Sir Graham Henry both needed two stabs at it before World Cup glory materialised. Some are now saying the same on behalf of Lancaster, despite England having failed to emerge from Pool A. The public mood in the coming days is unlikely to be so forgiving.
In the space of just 12 months, never mind four years, Michael Cheika has transformed Australia from a scandal-ridden, under-performing camp into potential World Cup winners. Joe Schmidt has steered Ireland to two Six Nations titles in two attempts. Lancaster has done a valuable job in rebuilding his country’s off-field image and restoring pride in the shirt but his 60% win record is only just better than Johnson’s and Brian Ashton’s. There is no guarantee that reappointing the current coaching panel will automatically enhance England’s chance of success in 2019. Robert Kitson
• Match report: England 13-33 Australia
• RFU rules out ‘hasty reaction’ after England exit
• How England botched their Rugby World Cup campaign
• Andy Bull: Pressure destroys Lancaster’s planning
2) ‘Pooper’ pairing will have Australia’s rivals taking note
Hard to believe that Michael Hooper and David Pocock were an initial reluctant selection by Michael Cheika who did not believe in playing two openside specialists in the back row. Watching the pair in tandem against England was to view a masterclass of how to use the contact area to turn defence into attack. Pocock won three of Australia’s eight turnovers and as the match wore on there was a growing weariness around Twickenham of what might happen every time a player in a white jersey took the ball into a tackle without at least two team-mates close behind. What Australia lack in ball-carrying ability with the “Pooper” pairing, they gain ten-fold in terms of putting doubt into the minds of the opposition. The other favourites at the World Cup have been warned. Claire Tolley
• Dean Ryan: Cheika shows benefit of being tested in club rugby’s furnaces
• Eddie Butler: Foley ushers England out of their own World Cup
3) Matfield does not command starting berth
It is a question that has been asked before, not always of the same person, and it remains relevant: should South Africa pick their captain? Victor Matfield, all 38 years and 125 caps of him, had a superb game last weekend against Samoa, but against Scotland Lood de Jager was even better. His partnership with Eben Etzebeth is one for the ages, the two of them bounding, brutal identikits of each other. De Jager topped South Africa’s tackle and carry counts – a remarkable achievement for a tight forward. If ever a player deserved to keep his place despite the return of a centurion captain, he is it. Michael Aylwin
4) Scotland had eyes on different prize
In the end Scotland did well to look off colour and draw to within seven points of the Springboks with an hour gone. A late try lent the scoreline a harsher – if more appropriate – feel, but the suspicion remains that, deep down, once all the psyche-ups and notes to self had been stripped away, Scotland were not that bothered about winning this one. If Scotland are to build on the promise of their opening two games, they will need a full side from here on and a good deal more aggression. Josh Strauss, in particular, could do with a rocket if he wants to prove himself a bona fide Scot. Saturday was meant to be an opportunity for him to wade into his native countrymen, show them what they missed. He appeared to let it pass. MAyl
• Kevin Mitchell: Scotland savour their moment but cannot taste victory
5) Ireland must improve for France encounter
Perhaps the easy victories in their first two games lulled Ireland into complacency against Italy. Certainly Joe Schmidt thought so. But as the captain Paul O’Connell admitted there were other worrying signs too. “It looked flat at times and it was flat at times,” he warned. Both men also faced repeated questioning about whether Ireland had enough guile in the side to score tries against the best teams. We will soon find out, but the fact that France have three extra days to prepare for the game should not be underestimated either. Sean Ingle
6) Italy too reliant on familiar face
After Italy’s 16-9 defeat to Ireland both Sergio Parisse and their coach Jacques Brunel were asked whether he could explain their “two faces” against Canada and Ireland – one flat and uninspired, the other running Ireland to within a try. The answer, as Brunel rightly admitted, was Parisse himself. “It’s true that his presence and leadership and his relationship with the team give something else to the team,” he said, before challenging his side to maintain their high standards against Romania. But Parisse is 32 now, and this is probably his last World Cup. Others need to step up into the huge void he will eventually leave. SI
7) Argentina demonstrate progress made behind scrum
Fast becoming the side that no one wants to play. Having given the All Blacks the hurry up they’ve shown they have added a set of ambitious backs to the traditional hard-scrummaging pack. They’re all but through to a quarter-final in Cardiff, most likely against Ireland, rested some important players against Tonga on Sunday and can rest some more against Namibia. Mike Averis
8) Tonga’s plight sums up that of the islanders
All the islanders are on their way home. Fiji were another side caught up in the pool of death, Samoa were disappointing and Tonga did themselves no favours by possibly underestimating Georgia first up. After that they were swimming against the tide and go into the final game against the All Blacks looking for third in the pool to rescue their campaign and secure a place at Japan 2019. MAv
9) Should Japan have gone for bonus point?
In the aftermath of Japan’s 26-5 victory over Samoa, some questioned the coach Eddie Jones about whether his side should have put their foot down in the second half and gone for the jugular, in search of a decisive bonus point. It seemed a strange line of questioning given Japan’s fine performance, continuing their remarkable World Cup run. However, look at the Pool B table and they could exit the tournament even if they beat the USA in their next match. Despite the weekend win and earlier heroics against South Africa, Japan are third in the pool without a bonus point to their name. They trail Scotland by two points and have a worse head-to-head record against them, which could prove decisive. James Riach
10) Samoa indiscipline costs islanders dear
Stephen Betham, the Samoa coach, lamented his side’s discipline after the defeat to Japan and well he might. His side had conceded 19 penalties throughout a match that exposed a gulf in class between teams who knew a quarter-final place was up for grabs. It was, at times, the same old story for Samoa, as offsides and knock-ons littered a performance that rarely contained any form of attacking threat. With Samoa on the precipice and Fiji exiting the tournament, Betham said: “It’s a pity Pacific islanders have fallen back. You let your guard down and you pay the price.” JR
