RFU: Second place ‘not acceptable’

Editor

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie has criticised England's second place finish in the Six Nations for the fourth year in a row.

Speaking to reporters, Ritchie spoke candidly about how England fared in this year's championship and what was expected of the side and coaching staff.

“Four years as runners-up is not acceptable and we are not happy with how that came about,” said Ritchie.

“If you go back through history, we should as a country be winning more in terms of Grand Slams, Six Nations, championships, other things.

"We had opportunities. And let us be clear – it was entirely in our control. The Irish deserved the win because of what they did over the five matches. We did not do enough over the five matches. There is no point bleating about it.

"We simply didn’t take opportunities, didn’t do what we should have done, were not clever enough during parts of the game in order to deserve the win.”

Lancaster and the England coaching staff recently had their contracts extended until 2020.