Lancaster steals the march on Mallett...
Stuart Lancaster may have been too modest to talk up his chances of landing the England coaching job full-time, but his two assistants were not after his inexperienced side beat France 24-22 in the Six Nations.
The 42-year-old has guided the side to three wins in four matches since he replaced Martin Johnson after last year’s World Cup debacle and became the first coach to beat the French in Paris in the Six Nations since England won there in 2008.
It is also the first time that England have won all three of their away matches in the Six Nations.
Lancaster may not rival the international experience of former Springbok and Italy coach Nick Mallett and former Ireland handler Eddie O’Sullivan, but for Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree there should be no contest as to who the RFU picks.
“I think the win [Sunday] is there for all to see what Stuart has achieved,” said Farrell, whose son Owen scored nine points with the boot.
“The biggest achievement is that he has put pride back in the jersey and you feel that round the country. It gives us a lot of belief. To get this team together like he [Lancaster] has done speaks volumes.
“We’ve had our doubters along the way but there is no harder game away than in Paris and you cannot underestimate how great an achievement it is.”
Rowntree also franked the former Rugby League great and England Rugby Union international’s point of view and he speaks with bitter-sweet experience as he was the only one of the England coaching staff to survive the post-World Cup cull.
“I think for such a young side to win here in such a hostile atmosphere makes me exceptionally proud,” said Rowntree.
“A lot was said after the World Cup and I think this match has restored some of the pride lost at that tournament.”
England captain Chris Robshaw, who has turned into an inspired choice ahead of some more experienced campaigners by Lancaster, also concurred with the coaches.
“They have created a great environment for us to go out there and play and of course as players we will back them to keep on doing it and keep on improving.
“I would like to think they think the same of us. We have only been together for 35 to 40 days now and we feel we have come a long way since that first game against Scotland.”
One of England’s three try scorers, Ben Foden, said that it had been a refreshing experience in comparison to the previous regime.
“They have been marvellous so far,” said the 26-year-old fullback, who has scored tries in all four tests he has played against France.
“The thing that Stuart has done is that he has been honest with all the players and the media.
“He has done what he set out to do and created an environment and culture that is certainly positive.
“All the boys are behind him and we all buy into what he is trying to build here and everyone is enjoying their rugby and enjoying the camp.
“Hats off to Stuart, ‘Faz’ [Farrell] and ‘Wig’ [Rowntree]. We have one game left and we need to make sure we don’t let them down in the last fixture [against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday].”
England still stand a slim chance of defending the title should they beat Ireland at Twickenham next weekend and Grand Slam-seeking Wales lose at home to France.
Lancaster, though, remained as down to earth as ever in sizing up their chances.
“As I have said all along you have things you can control and others that are out of your control,” he said.
“We can only focus on the Ireland match and beating them. We universally admire the Irish side but we are at home with the crowd behind us and we can beat them.
“We are at least masters of what we can do in that match.”
AFP
