Rugby World Cup: Pool A - England vs. Uruguay
Easter and Newell score hat-tricks as England bow out
PA Sport
October 10, 2015
Date/Time: Oct 10, 2015, 20:00 local, 19:00 GMT
Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
England 60 - 3 Uruguay
Attendance: 50778  Half-time: 21 - 3
Tries: Easter 3, Nowell 3, Slade, Watson 2, Penalty
Cons: Farrell 4, Ford
Pens: Berchesi Pisano
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 10:  Jack Nowell of England scores the sixth try during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between England and Uruguay at Manchester City Stadium on October 10, 2015 in Manchester, United Kingdom.  (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Jack Nowell of England scores his first try of a hat-trick against Uruguay
© Getty Images
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England scored 10 tries including hat-tricks by 37-year-old Nick Easter and Jack Nowell against Uruguay in their final match of the Rugby World Cup.

Anthony Watson also scored twice and Henry Slade once, plus there was a penalty try, as England won 60-3 against the South Americans, the second-lowest ranked team in the tournament.

England's game plan has gone out of the window at just about every point in this bitterly disappointing tournament for the hosts, so to fall 3-0 behind to the World Cup minnows in the opening minute following an offside decision was par for the course.

The lead, of course, did not last long as England started to play an expansive game with a long pass out to Jack Nowell opening up the space, with the Cornishman kicking through and Anthony Watson winning the foot race comfortably to touch down just before the ball went dead.

England sign off with win over Uruguay

Owen Farrell slotted home the conversion to set up a period of England dominance, but the hosts were too frantic in their search for redemption. Henry Slade was too hasty near Uruguay's line and lost the ball, then captain Chris Robshaw knocked on near the halfway line after taking his eye off the ball.

It was left to the old head of Easter to exert England's dominance properly - a penalty led to a line-out near the visitors' line which Geoff Parling claimed, and Easter took the ball at the rear of the rolling maul to plunge over for the second try, again converted.

The confidence surged back through England's veins and Easter pounced again for his second score of the night after a succession of phases saw Danny Care halted a metre from the try-line, with the 37-year-old crashing over with little fuss.

The crowd - impressive in size considering this was essentially a meaningless match - responded with enthusiasm to the scorers. A Mexican wave rippled around the City of Manchester stadium, Jerusalem echoed from several thousand lungs.

Uruguay also responded however, defending with admirable vigour against successive waves of attacks to ensure England had been restricted to three tries at the break.

Samoa 33-36 Scotland / England 60-3 Uruguay (Australia only)
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Some text-book quick-passing by the backs saw England extend their lead two minutes after the re-start. Lined-up behind each other at a scrum, quick hands down the line saw Watson on the overlap to score his second. Farrell, for the first time this tournament, missed the kick and the score remained 26-3. Even so England's display was underwhelming.

James Haskell was having an unhappy time, knocking on twice and then giving away a needless penalty for diving straight over the ball at a ruck.

It took some good soccer skills by Slade to liven things up, showing decent control with his feet before scoring his first try for England.

Soon after Nowell got in on the act, put in for an easy score after Care broke and then timed the pass perfectly. With three-quarters of the game gone, England had a comfortable 38-3 lead.

Uruguay looked exhausted and Easter plunged over again for a hat-trick that few would have predicted.

Nowell took full advantage of tiring legs and touched down for his second score with 10 minutes left, and then again in the corner five minutes later.

A penalty try finished the job for England - but rarely will such a large victory have been so little celebrated.

Anthony Watson dives to score England's first try of the night © Getty Images
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