Chiefs trio star in England win

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs duo Jack Nowell and Henry Slade were both on the scoresheet as England concluded their World Cup with a comprehensive 60-3 rout of Uruguay in Manchester.

Winger Nowell crossed three times for Stuart Lancaster's side, as did No.8 Nick Easter, while Anthony Watson plundered two and there was also a debut score for Slade and a penalty try.

With Lancaster opting to field four fly-halves in his back division, it was Slade, the Exeter centre who used his second cap to produce a performance - albeit against outclassed opponents - that begged the question why this was his first appearance of the World Cup.

It took until the second half for England to hit their stride, but even then they were their own worst enemies as they continued to suffer at the breakdown, a frustrating theme throughout the tournament.

Easter was impressive and named man of the match, Joe Launchbury picked up where he left off against Australia and Danny Care was lively, but minnows Uruguay - the last team to qualify for the World Cup - wilted after the interval.

Successive losses to Wales and Australia had already confirmed England's tournament demise, a fate which will have felt all the more painful after learning the result when their heavyweight Pool A rivals clashed at Twickenham earlier in the day.

The Wallabies prevailed 15-6, meaning that had England opted for the draw-securing late penalty against Warren Gatland's men two weeks ago they would have progressed to the knockout phase.

Instead, they must see the global showpiece continue without them while Lancaster waits anxiously for the outcome of the Rugby Football Union's review into the nation's worst performance at a World Cup.