England head coach Simon Middleton doesn’t suppose he’ll “ever recover from” shedding a second successive Rugby World Cup closing to New Zealand.
The Black Ferns overturned the Pink Roses’ lead with a late attempt to inflict one other agonising defeat on Saturday.
Middleton led England on the 2017 World Cup, the place they have been crushed by New Zealand within the closing for a fourth time.
“I do not suppose you ever recover from it, however you reside with it do not you?” a deflated Middleton mentioned on Sunday.
“There are worse issues that go on in life.”
Middleton had helped England to a file 30-Check profitable streak going into the ultimate they usually have been prime of the world rankings for 2 years.
“I am immensely happy with the group and what we have achieved,” he added.
“However once you put your self in excessive efficiency it is to win, there’s at all times an final aim and we pulled up a bit of bit brief.
“We did not get what we got here right here for and that will likely be my lasting reminiscence.”
‘Pink playing cards should take intent into consideration’
England managed to steer for many of the closing regardless of taking part in with 14 gamers from the 18th minute after wing Lydia Thompson was despatched off for a excessive sort out on Portia Woodman.
Woodman left the sector for a head harm evaluation and by no means returned, with New Zealand director of rugby Wayne Smith saying after: “I do not know if she’d keep in mind a lot of the sport.”
England lock Zoe Aldcroft additionally left due to a head harm and wing Abby Dow went off for an evaluation which she handed and allowed her to return to the pitch.
There have been questions over the consistency of playing cards at this World Cup and Kennedy Simon’s sort out that despatched Dow from the sector acquired a yellow when it didn’t look dramatically completely different from Thompson’s offence.
With the influence of concussions in rugby a key challenge within the sport, Middleton mentioned “participant welfare must be prime of the agenda” however questioned legal guidelines round what constitutes a purple card offence.
“Lydia Thompson is likely one of the most stunning, caring folks you’ll ever meet in your life,” he mentioned.
“If they do not take intent into consideration in conditions, then you definitely’ll by no means mirror precisely what is going on on.
“There needs to be a penalty for a excessive sort out or head conflict or issues that endanger gamers. However I simply suppose it’s a must to take intent into consideration. Perhaps that is the bit that is lacking as a part of our protocols and consistency.”
Requested about World Rugby legislation trials of 20-minute purple playing cards, relatively than sending a participant off for the remainder of the sport, Middleton mentioned: “I feel that is a terrific answer.”
Middleton took over as England head coach in 2016 and is contracted till June 2023.
He won’t be drawn on his future with the facet, saying he has “no concept” when he’ll focus on it with Rugby Soccer Union bosses.
“I work for a terrific group of individuals and I do know they’re going to help me in no matter choice we expect is correct,” he added.
