BRIAN MCDERMOTT cut a frustrated figure as England stare down the barrel of a gun in the World Cup.
Their chances of making the semi-finals are hanging by a thread after last Saturday’s 30-12 loss to Tonga.
Now, McDermott and England will be hoping Tonga beat Samoa in their final group game next week in order to stand any realistic chance of reaching the last four.
But, even then, that would mean England and Samoa would be separated by points difference – something which would be difficult to overcome given Samoa’s 78-4 thrashing of France last weekend.
And McDermott admitted: “The jeopardy in losing one game is so harsh.
“It’s almost like we don’t get another chance to straighten things out.
“There’s still a slim chance that we get through, and that’s something we’re focusing on, and we’re really determined.
“It’s just harsh that we have to take a standing eight count in the first round.”
Australia and New Zealand are effectively guaranteed to make the semi-finals after being placed in a group with Fiji and Cook Islands – even though the Kiwis also lost their first game to the Kangaroos.
“New Zealand have lost their first game as well, but they’re going to get another go at it and the likelihood is they’ll qualify, so their destiny is not lying in other people’s hands,” said McDermott.
“But that’s not the position we find ourselves in.
“There’s no frustration, all I’m recognising is that the jeopardy is really harsh.
“We knew that for us to go through, we had to go and beat Tonga.”
