When England flopped in the quarter-finals of the first Rugby World Cup

England went into the tournament in 1987 believing they could ‘beat anyone’. Wales dispelled that notion in the quarter-finalsBy Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports BlogEngland’s preparations for the inaugural Rugby World Cup began in earnest at the Five Nations in February 1987. They had an awful start to the tournament, losing 17-0 to Ireland in Dublin and then 19-15 to France at Twickenham. But the fallout from the Battle of Cardiff threw an even bigger spanner in the works. England were defeated and disgraced in Wales, losing the game 19-12 and losing four players to suspension. With just one…