The Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie has accepted that he is to blame if England do not win the upcoming Rugby World Cup on home soil.
England kick off the tournament against Fiji at Twickenham on September 18 as the country hosts the competition for a second time, with Ritchie having targeted victory for the home nation.
He has promised to accept responsibility himself if this aim is not achieved and says that his decision to appoint Stuart Lancaster means the blame must fall solely on himself in the event of England falling short.
He told reporters: "I think that you are the one that takes responsibility for it if you are the chief executive. I appointed Stuart. I was the one who believed he was the right person for the job.
"What we have got to be focusing on is doing our best to win this event. I think that we have some very talented and very young people and hopefully they will be in the squad for some time to come. But it is all about the here and now.
"Let's see what happens in the next few weeks. Knowing the squad and the coaching set-up, they are all very focused on doing their very best to win and I think we have a chance of doing that."
As well as Fiji, England face clashes with Uruguay, Australia and Wales in Pool A of the tournament.
Tom Nightingale
