The weight of expectation led to hosts England crashing out of the Rugby World Cup – that was the verdict of Aussie legend Michael Lynagh at a special @News staff event on Tuesday.

Stylish fly-half Lynagh, a World Cup winner with Australia against England at Twickenham in 1991, was at The News Building level 14 to promote his new book, Blindsided.

The HarperCollins book deals with 51-year-old Lynagh’s remarkable recovery from a massive stroke in 2012.

Lynagh notched up 72 caps for the Wallabies between 1984-95 before playing for English side Saracens.

England went crashing out of the current World Cup following their 33-13 home thrashing by the Aussies on Saturday night. The previous Saturday, they were beaten 28-25 by Wales at Twickenham.

Interviewed by The Sunday Times deputy sports editor Nick Greenslade, Lynagh said:

The expectation and pressure got to England.

Their failure to get out of the group stages was more to do with the Wales match that the defeat by the Aussies. In that game, they were 10 points ahead with 15 minutes to go and somehow managed to lose it.

As for Australia’s 1991 triumph, Lynagh reflected:

We were in pretty good shape that year. We had a good mix of leaders and youngsters.

Lynagh, who is currently writing about the World Cup for The Sunday Times, described his Blindsided book as a ‘cathartic’ experience.

I am proud of how it came out. It was quite cathartic really. Being a sportsman helped me a lot in recovery. You understand your body and I was relatively fit.

Family man Lynagh, who now lives and works in England, predicted a 2015 World Cup final showdown between arch rivals Australia and New Zealand.

He signed discounted copies of his book to News UK staff after the talk.