Leicester boss blasts England coach
England coach Stuart Lancaster was slammed by Leicester counterpart Matt O’Connor on Wednesday over his treatment of halfbacks Ben Youngs and Toby Flood.
Tigers scrumhalf Youngs and No.10 Flood were England’s first choice halfback pairing throughout last year’s Six Nations campaign, but have both lost their places this season through injury and loss of form.
However, Leicester’s former Australian international O’Connor is unhappy that the Tigers duo have been discarded by interim coach Lancaster, saying it reflected England’s negative gameplan.
“We consistently score the most tries in the Premiership because of those two blokes,” O’Connor told the Leicester Mercury.
“They just provide the rest of the team with so many opportunities.
“But the powers-that-be at England have not fully appreciated what they can offer a team.
“England don’t want creative players, they are just trying not to lose.
“If that is what they are trying to achieve, you can understand why Flood and Youngs are not the best blokes for the job.
“But if you are going out there to win a game, it has got to be Flood and Youngs at No.9 and No.10.
“There is nothing I have seen so far (in the Six Nations) that indicates England want to go out and beat teams.
“Under the current structure, I cannot see that changing.”
O’Connor also took a swipe at England’s attacking prowess, accusing Lancaster and his coaching regime of failing to bring the best out of fullback Ben Foden and wing Chris Ashton.
“Chris Ashton, Ben Foden, Toby Flood and Ben Youngs have won England every big game they have won in the last 18 months against the good sides,” O’Connor said.
“At the moment, you wouldn’t know that Ashton and Foden are on the field!
“Those guys, along with Manu Tuilagi are as good a back line as there is anywhere in the world but they never see the ball. That is an issue for the RFU to address.
“If you are talking about building a side for the World Cup in 2015, you have to go out and play.”
England, currently third in the Six Nations table behind Wales and France, face France in Paris on Sunday and conclude their campaign at home against Ireland on March 17.
* Flood was dropped by the defending Six Nations champions, England, for their penultimate Six Nations international away to France this weekend following the return to full fitness of Charlie Hodgson.
The Leicester flyhalf, who was a replacement for England’s 12-19 defeat against Wales at Twickenham in their last Test, has been released to play for the Tigers in their Anglo-Welsh Cup semifinal away to Bath on Friday.
Owen Farrell is set to continue at flyhalf against France in Paris on Sunday after impressing in the position a fortnight ago.
The 20-year-old, in only his third Test, was switched from inside centre to fly-half after Saracens team-mate Hodgson was forced to pull out of the Wales match with a finger injury.
England interim coach Stuart Lancaster will have to make at least one more change to his matchday 22 after lock Courtney Lawes was ruled out of the Championship with a shin problem with Tom Palmer, dropped for the Wales game, in line for a return.
Leicester No.8 Thomas Waldrom, Bath hooker Lee Mears and the Northampton duo of Calum Clark and Paul Doran-Jones have also been released for Anglo-Welsh duty this weekend.
AFP
