Chris Robshaw admits regret at turning down penalty against Wales

Decision cost England a place in the knockout stages

Chris Robshaw dejectedly walks down the Twickenham tunnel (Getty Images)

It was the decision that came to define England’s World Cup and Chris Robshaw admitted for the first time he regretted going for the corner when his side were awarded a late penalty in their game against Wales.

The England captain, speaking to the press for the first time since the World Cup, revealed how he has recovered from the disappointment with the help of All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick. But the decision to go for the corner still lingers, with Robshaw coming in for heavy criticism after opting against going for goal and potentially salvaging a draw when awarded a penalty with just two minutes left against the Welsh.

“You look at the way the game turned out and if we had drawn what would have happened,” said Robshaw. “If you had that time machine you probably would [go for the posts] but unfortunately we don’t and you just have to get on. I accept responsibility for that.”

But Robshaw – who admits he has no idea if he will be retained as captain by new England head coach Eddie Jones – believes he has started to come to terms with the disappointment of the tournament. “I spoke to Sean a couple of times, and he said: ‘The sun will come back up. It may take a day, it may take a week but you will be back’. He hit the nail on the head. It needs time.

“I want to be in an England shirt in the Six Nations. I want to be achieving and winning, whether that’s as captain, as No 6, 7, 8, as prop, whatever.”