By Howard Salkow

Newsport contributor Howard Salkow hails Australia’s win as hosts England are dumped in their backyard, in his Rugby Union World Cup update.  

The hosts will now be among the spectators. The coach is considering his future and there won’t be any Queen’s Honours for England at this year’s Rugby Union World Cup in the UK.

In beating England 33-13 at Twickenham, Australia has not only spoiled the party for the England rugby team, they have inflicted the ultimate humiliation by eliminating them from the World Cup. This is the first time, since the inaugural tournament in 1987 in New Zealand, a host nation has failed to make it beyond the Pool stages.

In a display that will clearly concern defending champions, the New Zealand All Blacks and possibly the South African Springboks – likely finalists – the Australian Wallabies are now serious contenders to win the Webb Ellis Trophy for a record three times.

They have overcome their scrummaging woes, they possess the two best loose forwards and ‘fetchers’ in the world, eighthman David Pocock and flanker Michael Hooper, and finally constructed a three-quarter line that has the ability to find cracks in most teams’ defences.

The Twickenham triumph also unearthed a hero in flyhalf Bernard Foley who contributed an Australian record haul of 28 points. At one point, the scoreboard could have read: Foley 26 England 13. He scored two tries, which he converted; added the extra points when Matt Giteau went over and goaled four penalties. His influence was considerable, but the Wallabies produced 80 minutes of quality rugby and must now be firm favourites to make it through to the final.

England coach Stuart Lancaster has a contract that extends to 2020, but readily admitted afterwards that he would have to consider his position. England was never going to win this match. Their limitations in all areas were shown up, significantly in the loose phases where they had no answer to Pocock and Hooper. They underestimated the Wallabies scrum and failed to penetrate a rock-solid defence that presented limited opportunities.

Japan, meanwhile, now has an opportunity for the first time to make it beyond the Pool stages. Their surprise wins over the Springboks and Samoa have allowed them to enjoy their most successful World Cup. The USA is their next hurdle and this is expected to be a fascinating contest.

We are closing in on the serious business of the tournament – the quarter finals – and this is where more upsets could emerge. The All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks may be the punters’ choices, but we cannot overlook the French, the most unpredictable team in world rugby.

The party has just begun.