NO SILVER LINING
England rugby stars branded ‘sore losers’ for taking off runner-up medals right away after World Cup final loss
ENGLAND'S rugby team have been labelled "sore losers" after they refused to wear their World Cup runners-up medals.
Eddie Jones' side were left battered and bruised after a heartbreaking defeat to South Africa in Saturday's final.
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England were well beaten 32-12 in Yokohama,in a game watched by millions of fans in pubs around the country.
But some of the squad sparked fury among fans when they immediately took their medals off while still on the pitch.
Saracens flanker Maro Itoje even refused to put the medal over his head.
The deflated squad then watched on as Siya Kolisi became the first black captain to lift the Rugby World Cup trophy.
One Twitter user said: "A game well played but the England players immediately taking off their medals is hugely disrespectful."
Another claimed: "England are now acting like spoilt children taking off their medals, so RUDE. Why embarrass themselves and us like that?"
And one shocked fan wrote: "Why didn't England wear their medals? Makes them look like poor losers. Lose and behave graciously and well if you can't win."
But Eddie Jones remained respectful to his opponents when he was quizzed about the runners-up spot.
He said: ";The silver medal is not as good as the gold medal, but it is a silver medal and I am proud of my players."
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He added: "We struggled to get on the front foot, they had dominance and it's hard to play on the back-foot ball.
"South Africa are worthy winners, but I can't fault the effort of our players, my team are hurting badly.
"We have no excuses and it's not the time now to discuss my future, but this team will keep developing."
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World Cup winner Siya Kolisi is also South Africa’s first black rugby captain
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