By Tom Greenaway

A barrage of English injuries has the host nations coach, Stuart Lancaster, “sleepless” in the lead up to their huge clash against the Wallabies this weekend.

Lock Courtney Lawes, No.8 Billy Vunipola and scrum- half Ben Youngs all sustained injuries in England’s 28-25 loss to Wales at Twickenham, a loss that is still haunting Lancaster.

“I didn’t sleep much, I was lying awake thinking about it. We were 22-12 up at one point and to go from that position after 50-odd minutes to lose the game is very disappointing,” he admitted.

To compound injury concerns for the English, centre Johnathan Joseph continues to fight an uphill battle to prove his fitness in time for their do-or- die match against the Aussies, as does replacement number eight Ben Morgan.

“We are going to have to wait and see how he (Joseph) trains or if he can train on Tuesday,” Lancaster said.

The English team that took on Wales was named early last week, but with so many injury concerns selection, according to coach, will have to wait until much closer to game time.

Lancaster also voiced his support for under-fire skipper Luke Robshaw, who opted not to take a penalty shot at goal late in the game that could have earned his side a draw.

Asked if Robshaw’s leadership was an issue, Lancaster said: “No. We back the captain and we back all the players; we always have done and we always will. It was a professional and well-executed first-half performance so I’m certainly not going to sit here and hang anyone out to dry.”

Robshaw himself was critical after their heartbreaking loss, “We feel we have let a lot of people down, and we need a huge response next week.”

The English take on a confident Australian outfit whose second string team thumped Uruguay last night, with a slip up in this game almost certainly means the hosts will fail to make it out of the pool stage for the first time in their World Cup History.

Lancaster remains upbeat however heading into the game he agrees feels akin to a World Cup Final.

“We’ve got to move on very, very quickly to the next game, Australia, because if we beat them we are absolutely back in the game. Wales have to play Fiji – a tough game for Wales – and then Australia. We are definitely not out of this.”