England scrum-half Ben Youngs has said that the Rugby World Cup clash with Australia needs to be treated as if it is the final of the competition if the Red Rose are to put themselves into a position to progress to the knockout stages.
The hosts gave up a 22-12 second-half lead to lose 28-25 to Wales at Twickenham on Saturday, leaving them three points behind the Red Dragons and the Wallabies after two matches in Pool A.
Youngs insisted that Stuart Lancaster's side must push the defeat from their minds and realise the importance of the repeat of the 2003 final if they are to emerge victorious next Saturday.
"We have got to suck it up, realise why it happened, how it happened, get on with it and come out next week," he told reporters.
"It is our World Cup final on Saturday, it is all or nothing for us."
England would become the first host nation to fail to progress from the group stage at a World Cup if they fail to finish in the top two in Pool A.
Written by
Tom Nightingale
Tom Nightingale
