Image source, Reuters

Almost show-time. Both players stroll out of the Manchester City Stadium tunnel, not one pair of English eyes glances at the William Webb Ellis trophy as they pass that sparkling prize handed out to the eventual winners. 

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport in Manchester

"It would be easy to only focus on the discarded England flags on the floor, and it is not exactly jumping, but in fairness there's a pretty good turnout at the official Fanzone in Manchester's Albert Square. Sorrows are being cheerfully drowned."

Earlier England looked on envious as Australia and Wales, both already safely through, battled it out for the right to win Pool A.

And it was the Wallabies who weathered a storm to win 15-6 victory at Twickenham.

Now Australia face Scotland in the quarter-final on 18 October, with Wales against South Africa the day before.

Image source, BBC Sport

Stuart Lancaster has cut a lonely figure at times during this tournament. And he could be forgiven for feeling isolated again tonight.

His right-hand men Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree have both been banned from the dressing room after breaking World Cup rules.

The pair were found guilty of speaking to match officials at half-time during the defeat by Australia on 3 October.

So World Rugby has told them to stay away from the bowels of the Etihad Stadium. Although there's no truth in the totally-fabricated rumour that they have employed a few beefy doormen to stop Farrell and Rowntree trying to sneak in...

Image source, PA

England's short-term World Cup legacy is bleak but grassroots reform is the way to a brighter future, says my BBC Sport colleague Ben Dirs.  

"Let's not forget, the performance of England at this year's World Cup was not a blip. Since winning the Webb Ellis Trophy in 2003, they have won one Six Nations title and no Grand Slams," he writes.

"During that time, France and Wales have won four Six Nations titles each and Ireland three. It doesn't take a genius to work out that England are not making the most of their superior resources."

Read Ben's thoughts on England's exit here.

John Beadle: England's choice to not take the draw against Wales even worse now. Bonus point win tonight and we'd be going through!

James Mitchell: Well #ENG, external we've had back to back epic games @RWC, external. Now it's time to finish today off with a game the fans will be proud of. 

Steffon Armitage, arguably, should be in an England shirt tonight but because he plays for Toulon in France, the Red Rose currently will not consider the back-row forward for selection. So he has gone to the rugby league Grand Final at Old Trafford instead...

England rarely venture away from HQ, but when they do it is Manchester which has benefited. Six years ago the Red Rose played Argentina at Old Trafford, which also played host when they previously ventured outside the M25 back in 1997.

"There's a lot of people who've waited a long time to see England play in the north of England," says England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

"We have a lot of young talent on show and that talent will excite the crowd and it's up to us to do that. We want to leave people with the feeling that actually this is a good team."

To nick that famous line from 70s rockers The Clash...should he stay or should go now? You tell us, England fans. Should Stuart Lancaster's reign be over?  Why? And if so, who should be the man to replace him? Grab your mobile phones, open your laptops and tell us in 140 characters or less on #bbcrugby. Or if you need to sound off in more than a Tweet than text 81111. Don't forget to include your name and location if texting in.

England forward Billy Vunipola was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a knee ligament strain in the 28-25 defeat by Wales and joins us on BBC Radio 5 live this evening...

Image source, Reuters

As far as birthday weeks go, Stuart Lancaster has had a stinker. Accountable for his nation's failure at a home World Cup. Calls for him to leave his job. Claims that somebody else - former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett - has been offered it. Revelations about training ground bust-ups. All those dramas combined puts an unwanted present from your partner into perspective...

Nick Hope, BBC Sport

Tonight's game comes to you live from Etihad Stadium - except that it doesn't. Can we go retro and call it the City of Manchester Stadium, just for tonight?

Manchester City Council must have the old stadium sign kicking about somewhere surely? 

Dead rubber. Meaningless. Complete waste of time. However some might have described England's final World Cup match, the people of Manchester don't miss the chance to have some fun. Plenty of England shirts, St George flags and face paint have been spotted around the city, with a full house of 50,000 at the Etihad Stadium - known as the Manchester City Stadium during this tournament - still expected. And it doesn't look like many have decided to bin their tickets and stay at home instead...

Now England face the sporting equivalent of spending another week in the office after being told that you've been made redundant.

Defeats by Wales and Australia mean that Stuart Lancaster's men have no chance of reaching the quarter-finals at their own World Cup. But instead of being able to escape out of the side door, they are contractually obliged to work one more evening.

At least they have the opportunity for a morale-boosting win. Pool A minnows Uruguay should not provide any more shocks...

The plan was clear: invite all of your peers, provide some dazzling entertainment, bust out some impressive moves, then send them home one by one feeling rough and a little sorry for themselves.

But England didn't bank on their shindig being ruined by some brutish behaviour from their Welsh and Aussies guests. The hosts have been hustled out of their own party, bundled through the back door and left in the freezing cold peering in from the outside.

Image source, Getty Images