Freddie Steward: 'We are all devastated, we gave absolutely everything'

Richard Wigglesworth, attack coach 

On coping with the semi-final result:

"It definitely takes a bit longer when it's that close and that late. It hurts but that's why we love sport and rugby because it matters so much."

On how he copes:

"Time and family. I have three kids and one is a four-year-old, it definitely takes your mind off things. Also throwing ourselves into the next challenge because we've been prepping for Argentina."

On picking players up after losing the semi-final:

"They will all feel slightly different about it and that's fine. We don't want anyone to fake it [how they are feeling]."

On approach to selection:

"We've not finalised yet. We need to see the group and this has been a squad effort, some credit for the boys who haven't played. We know the effort they have put in and the sacrifices they have made. We have a game to win Friday night and that will be the sole criteria for selection."

On Argentina:

"They will come out all guns blazing. They've had slightly longer to recover. We're expecting a huge challenge, we know this game is a way to finish in the right way for both teams."

On motivating factors:

"There are all sorts of different stories to grab onto this week. We need to make sure we treat every case individually in terms of what is going to motivate them. But as a team we are really motivated to show our progress, to finish in the right way which is a win and a feeling we deserve."

On how Tom Curry is:

"Tom is good. He has been thrown into it, he is a very impressive young man."

On making sure the review into Curry's allegation is not a distraction:

"We get stuck into our prep for Argentina. The process is the process. We have no knowledge of how long that is going to go on for on the outcome. Every week there is always some sort of thing you could be distracted by. This is international rugby, there is lots of noise around it. This distraction is different but it's still noise that isn't about Friday night."

On Kevin Sinfield and his influence on the team:

"He is a close friend of mine from Leicester. I am very close with him so I am probably incredibly biased about what Kev brings. I'm sure the lads and the environment will tell you he gives absolutely everything, has a big influence on individuals. He gives up a lot of his time just trying to help. We know he is that sort of person and he has done an exceptional job of doing it."

On the tournament as a whole:

"We've seen progress and we are pleased and proud of the players. If we get Friday night right and do our job to the best of our ability then we have a good chance of leaving the tournament with some tangible reward and some satisfaction to go along with all the hard work."

On his view of a bronze final:

"This is not the week you want to be playing in. You can be honest and say this isn't the game that these two teams aimed to play in. But we could have already been at home and we're not. If you're asking where you'd rather be, you'd rather be here participating in a World Cup."

On support around Tom Curry:

"I know the players would have got round him. Steve [Borthwick] and the management team have been all over it. I'm sure he is getting every bit of support he needs."

On any injuries:

"We look in a pretty good spot."

On Courtney Lawes, who has announced he will retire from international rugby after RWC 2023:

"He will be remembered for his actions in an England shirt. he is incredible to play like he does, to get the amount of caps, the amount of World Cups [four] he has. I'm sure he will go down as an England legend and rightly so. A massive contribution over a significant number of years. He has overcome injuries and time out of the game to come back and always back to his best. A sign of a classy player."

On if he was ever tackled by Lawes:

"I was always smart enough to make sure [I didn't]. I actually got Charlie Hodgson [former Saracens and England player] filled in once after taking two steps too many at scrum-half. I had to apologise for getting a couple of guys hit! I avoided him at all costs."

On how England's attack will develop:

"It's something we have to reflect on. So much of it is personnel based. Who the right players are to move that forward and what the right players are to make sure we win the most amount of games. I would always want to tailor it to that rather than the coaching system dropping on. I'll make sure we evolve the system to fit the talents of what we have got."

On if Kevin Sinfield is leaving:

"Nothing I have been aware of from Kev. It's hard to comment on as it is not me who the story is about. Hopefully there isn't much in it."

On Ben Youngs:

"He has been very good. He has used his experience to help, as with any of the non-playing players. It's not an easy situation to be in and you wouldn't want any of them to be happy about it. But from game plans to experience of playing oppositions, to training he has been very good."

Freddie Steward, full-back

On his emotions after the semi-final:

"I have probably thought about it at least a couple of times every hour, every day, since. It is not something that is going to be very easy to shake off. I always say where you are the worse team and you lose by 20 or 30 points, they are often the easier ones to accept than the ones where you are really in the game and it's such fine margins. We are all devastated, we gave absolutely everything. We fought tooth and nail on Saturday. It's a challenge for us now to park that and focus on the Argentina game."

On moving forward:

"I think it is a balance between not trying to think about it too much and focus on the game but also trying to use some of that pain. Try and really step up and do ourselves proud. The last thing this group wants to do is finish the World Cup on the back of two losses. For guys like Courtney [Lawes], we owe it to them and owe it to each other to finish [well]."

On Dan Cole and Ben Youngs, his team-mates at England and Leicester:

"Coley and Ben are almost like my surrogate fathers to be honest. They are fantastic, to do what they have done at the level they have for such a long time is remarkable, especially in their positions and the physical demands. With Coley in the scrum it's incredible. I don't think those two will ever get the credit they really deserve.

"It's not just what you see on the pitch, it's how they treat guys like me who came through pretty young. The way they lift the morale of the group when we need it and their experience has been massive. It's so important when you have that blend of youth and experience for those guys to really take the lead. I can't thank them enough, I'm fortunate enough we can go back to Leicester and I can play with them."

On if the semi-final showed England what they are capable of:

"I think it's so raw, it's hard. Once the dust has settled we can all be very proud of that performance. It shows what this group is capable of. We probably haven't seen it enough building into the World Cup, we saw bits of it in the group stage and we have now strung two really positive performances together in the knock-out rounds. It's exciting to see where this group can go."

On if he was pleased with his semi-final performance after not playing in the quarter:

"As pleased as I can be with what happened. It's hard to see the positives with the way things ended. It was made very clear to us at the start of this campaign that we are a group of 33 and my role against Fiji was slightly different to the one it was against South Africa. Regardless [if I am] starting or not involved, I will give my all to help the team. Marcus [Smith] did a brilliant job at 15 and I wouldn't have the opportunity to play in the semi-final had he and the rest of the guys not put together a [win] the week before."

On his passionate anthem singing:

"I think with the emotions surrounding a game like that it is definitely necessary for me to get all of that out there as quickly as possible. If I carry some of that emotion into my game it would distract me from my performance. The anthem is an opportunity to enjoy the occasion. Our loved ones were right in front of us when we sang that anthem.

"I try not to look for them because sometimes it gets too much but I remember catching eyes almost immediately. It got to me a bit. It's a special moment, when you are in arms with each other and you are representing your country on a stage like that - to belt that out together is amazing."

On being stood next to George Martin and Ollie Chessum during the anthem and their performances in RWC:

"They have both been absolutely incredible. It's not easy, for some of us younger guys it is our first experience of a World Cup. That can be slightly daunting. 'Chess' I think everyone knew what he was capable of before this World Cup with some of his performance for England previously.

"It's the same with George but I think he will start to get more credit. He has always been an unbelievable player. In that semi-final, the way he hits and carries and how he carries himself at his age is phenomenal."

Ben Earl, back-row

On the performance and result in the semi-final:

"Performance wise, brilliant. For 78 minutes it was the most enjoyable game I have ever played. Probably more so that the plan was executed in such a way by the boys, I thought it was brilliant. In terms of reflections, what hurts the most is none of us felt we could have done any more. It's sometimes a flip of a coin in those games, fair play to South Africa they made the most of it."

On picking themselves up:

"It's hard. I think we have got to lean on each other, we have to give those boys playing their last game for England the send-off they deserve. Also it's a game playing for your country so in that regard it's easy to get up from. It's about parking what happened last weekend, which is easier said than done."

On giving players a send-off who will be playing in their final match for England and Lawes:

"I think you disrespect anyone who has worn an England shirt if you don't give your best on Friday. On Courtney [Lawes], I can't speak more highly of him as a player, as a professional, teammate and friend. All the accolades he has achieved he has earned. Some of the stuff he puts his body through is amazing.

"For him to be playing some of his best rugby last weekend in what could be his last game for England is testament to the player he is. I'm gutted to see him call time with that but I think it's the most selfless decision you can make is pulling you own plug on your international career."

On Argentina:

"You have to remember there is a team who have gone through the same struggle after the semi-finals. That is another bit of narrative to the game. I think what we are focusing on is preparing and performing. You want to go into the Six Nations with a bit of a bounce. To come home with a medal would be mega."

On his personal performance:

"I am really pleased with what I have put out and I am just glad I could contribute with a rose on my chest. I think there are a few of us now who have a bit of individual responsibility who have got to start thinking about what is next for this England team. There is no secret there is going to be a bit of transition with some of the really experienced guys maybe not being as involved anymore. It's up to us now to take that mantle on and see where we can take the team."

On how players are helping Tom Curry:

"Tom is a brilliant team-mate and friend of mine. He is also an incredibly resilient guy. He gives his all for the team and I know he'll do that this weekend and I hope it gets resolved pretty quickly."

On Lawes' preparation and what he has learned:

"I think what I have got from Courtney the most, and it's another testament to his character, but that guy has probably not been 100 per cent for this whole tournament. But you look at the way he trains and performs. It's unbelievable. What you see behind closed doors, the pain and how much he has pushed his body is unbelievable.

"It's a good marker for some of us if sometimes you feel tired or sore, you have to look at someone like him. He has been doing it for so many years, that is probably my biggest takeaway. Other than the fact he is one of the best to play for England."