We got over 1991 – now class of 2019 must develop

HAVING played for England when we lost the 1991 World Cup final to Australia gives me a shared experience with where the current squad are after their loss to South Africa last month.

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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.