England's second place finish in the Six Nations for fourth consecutive year is unacceptable, says RFU chief
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RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie believes England's second place finish in the Six Nations for the fourth year in a row is unacceptable, but insists there is “no point bleating about it” in the build up to the Rugby World Cup in September.
Ritchie will make his views clear to head coach Stuart Lancaster whose position is not under threat as the entire England coaching staff recently had their contracts extended until 2020
“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.”
Ritchie wants to see an improvement at the Rugby World Cup where England are in the Pool of Death.
“None of us can take anything for granted in a pool also containing Wales, Australia and Fiji,” said Ritchie. “We have got to make sure we come out in the Rugby World Cup and deliver.”
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