Lancaster treads well-worn path
England boss Stuart Lancaster will look to join a select group.
Wales's Carwyn James, who oversaw the British and Irish Lions triumphant tour of New Zealand in 1971, Scotland's Ian McGeechan, South Africa's Jake White in 2007 and, most recently, New Zealand's Graham Henry, who four years ago steered the All Blacks to World Cup triumph on home soil, are among those who have made a successful journey from classroom to training ground.
Indeed Lancaster's experience as a teacher and then as coach of the reserve Saxons, where he played a role in steering the fortunes of many of the current side when they were emerging players, played a key role in his elevation to the top coaching job in English rugby after the team's inglorious exit from the 2011 World Cup.
It wasn't just that a side managed by Martin Johnson, England's victorious captain at the 2003 World Cup, had crashed out in the quarterfinals with a 12-19 loss to France that caused a sense of frustration among supporters, as much as the players' off-field conduct which resulted in a series of embarrassing incidents – culminating with centre Manu Tuilagi's ill-advised jump off a ferry into an Auckland harbour.
Enter Lancaster, with heartfelt and sincere talk about "values" and reconnecting with English rugby's grassroots.
But right from the moment he was appointed, the criticism which has dogged Lancaster to this very day had a thorough airing – was he sufficiently tactically astute to lead England to consistent success against the game's major nations?
After all, he had never coached one of England's leading clubs nor gained significant experience abroad.
As a nation with one of rugby's largest playing bases and one of the sport's wealthiest unions, England should always have a good supply of players to call upon.
Indeed the joke in Wales during their 'golden age' of the 1970s was that if ever the English got organised, they would be dangerous.
England have not won the Six Nations under Lancaster although that didn't stop the Rugby Football Union awarding him a new contract before, rather than after the World Cup.
As for how 'organised', England are under Lancaster, the jury remains out.
Even allowing for Warren Gatland's penchant for unsettling the opposition, there was still some truth in the Wales coach's words when he said of Lancaster's side: "England have got the problem of which way they want to play and who they want to play.
"Who are they going to play at nine and 10? Who are they going to play in midfield? What is the make-up of their back row?"
Yet Lancaster, in appointing openside flank Chris Robshaw as his captain right from the very start of his tenure has shown himself prepared to make big calls about his side.
And while not given to outward displays of emotion, he is in no doubt about his ability to motivate his players, having gathered the squad together on Sunday at their Surrey training camp.
"Basically all I was doing was articulating my belief and trying to build their belief that they can go on and win the tournament.
"Why would we do all the work and get here and then think 'can we, can't we?' We've just got to believe we can. It was about building belief."
Lancaster's task at the World Cup has not been made any easier by England being drawn in a pool featuring Wales and Australia, as well as Fiji, their opening opponents at Twickenham on Friday.
But by dropping centre Tuilagi and hooker Dylan Hartley for disciplinary reasons, Lancaster has already demonstrated that just being a good player is not enough to gain selection in his England team.
"He's been impressive,' Henry said of Lancaster in an interview earlier this month. "He put standards before personalities which is good."
But it will be good enough to win England the World Cup?
Agence France-Presse
