Stuart Lancaster Interview

Not know if this has been covered or not sure it will be merged if it has but I was listening to Matt Dawsons programme on 5 Live last night and they had an interview with Lancaster on it.

Now I had not really heard a lot about the guy beforehand but he seems very level headed, is very good and talking the talk etc and communicating (teacher background so should be I guess) but he seemed really upbeat and confident about Englands chances.

He said he's going to let the guys just play rugby and not try and stifle them to much he also mentioned that if they try things and they go wrong then he's not going to drop them like a hot potato (did mention Tait) but will give them the chance to leard from their mistakes.

Now few seasons back England looked dangerous with Ashton and Foden running some great lines and scoring some very good tries, through the likes of Brown, Farrell and Barritt into the mix and England could have a very good 6 Nations, especially as a lot are writing them off.

bedfordwelsh wrote:He said he's going to let the guys just play rugby and not try and stifle them to much.

Brian Ashton said the same and it didn't really work out. Think the really top teams have a decent game plan but also have players who can think on their feet by playing what's in front of them. Not sure this crop of English players has that second ability yet although they may in time.

Who is writing them off?

How could you write them off?

.. they're still high on the list of everyone's possibles. And let's face it, in a competition of six, half the field will always have a realistic chance.

Nobody who knows anything about rugby would write England off on the evidence of a poor, for them, WC. I don't think any of us think they are poor players just players with a poor attitude...and that'll be kicked out of them soon enough. I have a feeling that from here on in the mantra will be 'if you don't behave you're out'.

B9,

Well lets hope then that if it is only a matter of time that they are given it and not treated like Tait was.

I can see his point and also they were chatting to Guscott about Morgan going for England and he said soemthing similar in that Morgans style of play is a lot to do with the Scarlets style of play so if the picked Morgan and then England played a different style he might not be as affective.

Secret,

Where in my post are the words writing them off, you only have to read some on here and the media (I know I know) to see some are expecting a poor tournament, throw in the few injuries picked up as well and it could be.

For the record I never write England off as one the always have is a big strong pack which if need be can control the game against the best.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Secret,

Where in my post are the words writing them off

I'm not sure that was a question but if it was here's where you said it:

"Now few seasons back England looked dangerous with Ashton and Foden running some great lines and scoring some very good tries, through the likes of Brown, Farrell and Barritt into the mix and England could have a very good 6 Nations, especially as a lot are [writing them off]."

Can't a guy answer a generalised supposition put forward in a post without being accused of ...well, accusing the writer of saying something he didn't?

You say 'a lot' are writing them off (not you, I understood that - but the 'lot') .... and I, in turn, simply took that line and used it to suggest those people must have a very limited understanding of the game if a few Dwarf throwing events and showboat diving moves in New Zealand will dictate how England will approach the Six Nations.

I wasn't accusing you of writing England off . My line: "How could you write them off?" is clearly rhetorical

bedfordwelsh wrote:B9,

Well lets hope then that if it is only a matter of time that they are given it and not treated like Tait was.

I can see his point and also they were chatting to Guscott about Morgan going for England and he said soemthing similar in that Morgans style of play is a lot to do with the Scarlets style of play so if the picked Morgan and then England played a different style he might not be as affective.

I agree, the players need to be given a game plan for some structure but then also the freedom to take imitative and stuck with if it doesn't come off straight away. Problem is this takes time and Lancaster hasn't got much of that but I too have been impressed with him so far and really hope he does well. Although I wouldn't mind Mallet as coach I would prefer someone already within the English game if possible.

The Morgan quote is an interesting one. The Scarlets play an exiting style of rugby to watch, I guess if he is picked against Scotland then maybe it could be a statement of intent almost.

Well only time will tell I know under Lancaster the players will have discipline that has been lacking in recent years. He has a good experience of getting players together with a relative short amount of time and forged them into a reasonably well functioning team (Saxons). Hopefully a few fresh faces will grab their opportunity and show some invention and play with no fear. I don't mind them making mistakes if they are trying to play rugby and just want to see them enjoy themselves and get stuck in.

Although I wouldn't mind Mallet as coach I would prefer someone already within the English game if possible.

B9,

If Lancaster and Co do really well this 6 Nations do you think the RFU will stick with them or do the want the big marque name/signing etc.

bedfordwelsh wrote:

B9,

If Lancaster and Co do really well this 6 Nations do you think the RFU will stick with them or do the want the big marque name/signing etc.

I think the RFU have already made their mind and do want a marque coach. The only way I could see the current coaching team staying as it is would be if England somehow pull off a Grand Slam. If they win the 6N without the Slam then I wouldn't be surprised to see Lancaster and maybe Rowntree still involved in the coaching team but under a higher profile head coach.

I really hope not. I'd have been tempted to offer Lancaster the 6 Nations and the summer tour, to see how he got on. We still need some restructuring and new faces in the RFU, so until that is sorted out we shouldn't be committing to anyone long term anyway.