Lancaster: I picked right England side
HEAD coach Stuart Lancaster insists the group of players which presided over England’s worst ever World Cup showing can rise from the ashes of failure and prove the foundation for future success.
Lancaster admitted that his squad remain in a “dark place” after the 33-13 defeat to Australia at Twickenham on Saturday confirmed their tournament exit – the first time a host nation has not reached the quarter-final.
The autopsy on England’s World Cup meltdown is well under way with defence coach Andy Farrell accused of having a disproportionate influence on selection and recriminations over the make-up of the 31-man squad.
Lancaster’s own future is shrouded in doubt despite having a contract until 2020, although he remains adamant that the correct player choices were made, and believes those individuals should not be consumed forever by their World Cup demise.
“I 100 per cent believe the group of players I stood in front of yesterday and today will be sat here at Pennyhill for the Six Nations,” said Lancaster. “Some of our most talented players are our youngest players.
“Clearly we are in a dark place. But equally as a leader in charge of the team you have to give everyone a sense of direction, purpose and perspective. That is an important word.
“While all the noise outside the team is huge at the moment, internally I’m absolutely determined the team stays together and stays positive and stays believing in what they’re doing. We’ve played some brilliant rugby over the past 12 or 18 months and even before then. We’ve not won every game, but we’ve won a lot and played some good rugby and people shouldn’t forget that.
“It’s important the players understand that and listen to what I’m saying about where they can go as a team in the future. I think they’ve got fantastic potential.”
Lancaster has opted to utilise his squad, which has the youngest average age at the tournament of 26.2 years, for England’s Pool A dead-rubber against Uruguay at the Manchester City Stadium on Saturday, and has made a total of eight changes.
There is no place for Test rookie Sam Burgess, who was drafted in to start England’s pivotal clash with Wales, in the matchday squad as Lancaster elected for a midfield of fly-half George Ford and centres Owen Farrell and Henry Slade.
But whether Saturday proves to be Lancaster’s final game in charge of the national team or not, the 45-year-old is adamant that his players need to bow out of the tournament with a flourish. “A big driver is that the impression you leave in any walk in life or competition is very important,” added Lancaster. “It’s very important that we put together a positive, attacking display and I think this team will reflect that.”
Lancaster also doused speculation that former Bradford Bulls and South Sydney Rabbitohs star Burgess is set to make a return to rugby league post-World Cup, less than a year after switching codes to union. “My last conversation with him was about going back to Bath. He can’t wait to get stuck into the Premiership,” he said. “He feels he’s made good strides and wants to continue to improve. I can’t see anything changing.”
IN
England head coach Stuart Lancaster has made eight changes for his side’s Pool A dead rubber against Uruguay at the Manchester City Stadium on Saturday. Danny Care (top) comes in at scrum-half for his first appearance of the competition, while Bath’s George Ford – dropped for the defeats to Wales and Australia – reprises his role as fly-half, with Owen Farrell switching to inside centre to partner Exeter’s Henry Slade (right) in a new-look midfield. Saracens’ Alex Goode will make his tournament bow at full-back, as will Jack Nowell of Exeter on the wing. Lancaster has opted for Mako Vunipola at loosehead prop, while James Haskell and veteran No8 Nick Easter are set to start in the back-row.
OUT
Despite starting against Wales and coming off the bench against Australia and Fiji, there is no place in the matchday squad for rugby league convert Sam Burgess (right). Full-back Mike Brown (below), centre Jonathan Joseph, prop Joe Marler and flanker Tom Wood all drop to the bench. Defensive linchpin Brad Barritt is ruled out with an arm injury, while lock Courtney Lawes remains sidelined with the knee injury he picked up during England’s 28-25 defeat to Wales at Twickenham. Gloucester No8 Ben Morgan and Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs are only set to return to training tomorrow, while injury also rules out wing Jonny May. Hooker Jamie George and prop David Wilson have been named on the bench in place of Rob Webber and Kieran Brookes.