Lancaster Appointed As England Coach

by Dugald Skene

The RFU confirmed today that they have chosen Stuart Lancaster for the permanent position as head coach of England.  Given the 4 wins from 5 during the recent 6 Nations, it is perhaps little surprise, but I can’t help but feel that this is a little bit of a short-sighted decision.

First and foremost, I think Lancaster is a good coach.  He clearly understands the game, his players and knows how to get the best out of them.  Perhaps this was exaggerated by the fact that many of his players were new to the international scene and therefore naturally keen to step up and impress.  However, the biggest doubt coming into the 6 Nations was about how Lancaster would deal with high level strategy and tactics.  With those 4 wins, including victory in Paris, it would seem that any doubts within the RFU have been allayed. 

There is a big ‘but’ here though, and it comes in the shape of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.  As well as England did in the 6 Nations, many (if not all) of the opponents they beat underperformed.  They were perhaps lucky to come away from Edinburgh and Rome with wins and victories over France and Ireland seemed a little bit hollow (at least to the neutral viewer) because of the inconsistent form of the two teams.  The one team they played that were performing well, Wales, came out on top at Twickenham.  The southern hemisphere teams will provide a far more realistic yardstick if the English have sights on the world cup.

The bigger test will be coming over the next 8 months as England take on the very best in the world, and England push for a top 4 IRB world ranking for the RWC pool selections at the end of the year.  In my opinion, there are 3 teams playing for 3^rd and 4^th, England, Wales and South Africa.  The way these teams play against each other will be key to how the world cup groups will look.

Stuart Lancaster has impressed sufficiently to get the

job on a permanent basis

And what of the world cup? Well, it’s in England.  It’s probably easy to underestimate the increased pressure to perform for the host nation during a world cup, whatever the sport, but when it’s England playing rugby, there will likely be as much expectation as the All Blacks faced in 2011.  The pressure to deliver will be massive, and it’s here that the RFU have taken their biggest risk.  By appointing Lancaster on the basis of 5 games, over the likes of Nick Mallett with proven RWC experience, the RFU have basically said that they see him as being the man to win them the world cup under the toughest of circumstances. 

It’s way too early to start saying that it’s impossible for someone with relatively little experience to succeed, there are still 3 RBS 6 Nations tournaments to play, 3 autumn international series to play and 3 summer tours to go on before a world cup ball is kicked.  It’s a risk, of course, but only time will tell whether it will pay off and the first real indicator will be in November.

Lancaster will need the support around him.  I’ve mentioned before in this blog that Andy Robinson, as good a hand-on coach as he clearly is, often struggles with the strategic element of games as well as the media side.  As number 2 to Clive Woodward in 2003, he was able to get on with what he was good at in coaching the players.  I think that Lancaster is of a similar mould and would benefit from having someone to take the pressure away from him where possible without impinging on the way he wants to run his team.  It would have to be someone he feels comfortable working with rather than a random RFU appointment, and it would have to be made sufficiently far enough ahead of the world cup to allow integration and familiarity.

These are interesting times for England and their supporters.  Both the coaches and the squad demonstrated a desire to progress and the ability to succeed.  The key for Lancaster is to find a way to sustain that success.

6 Nations Round 4: Team Of The Round

by Dugald Skene

Here's my take on the outstanding performers in this weekends RBS 6 Nations. What do you think?

1. Cian Healy
2. Rory Best
3. Dan Cole
4. Richie Gray
5. Ian Evans
6. Tom Croft
7. Julien Bonnaire
8. Sergio Parisse

9. Eoin Reddan
10. Owen Farrell
11. Andrew Trimble
12. Jamie Roberts
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Alex Cuthbert
15. Leigh Halfpenny

Jamie Roberts scoring for Wales against Italy

Honourable mentions go to Imanol Harinordoquy, Lee Dickson, Chris Robshaw, Keith Earls, David Denton, Wesley Fofana, Brad Barritt, Stephen Ferris and Donnacha Ryan.

What do you think? Who would you change?

Scott Williams Steals Limelight In The Steve Walsh Show

England 12-19 Wales
Saturday 25th February 2012

The clash at Twickenham on Saturday didn't quite go to script. All week, there was talk of the Welsh coming to London to smash an inexperienced English team. What we didn't bet on was the level to which the English played.

Much like the Calcutta Cup game, it boiled down to a one off score to split the sides. The English put up a titanic defensive display to nullify the revered giants that are the Welsh backline, but in the end it was the back-up Scott Williams, on for the injured Jamie Roberts at half time who tackled, stripped, ran, kicked, chased and gathered to score an outstanding individual effort.

For all of the positives that England will take away, Wales did not play to their fullest potential.

They got off to a flyer with George North streaking through the defensive line from 1st phase lineout ball only to be tap tackled by the covering David Strettle just as North was lining up Ben Foden.

England held out through the early storm and even posed their own threats with the central axis of Ben Morgan at 8, Lee Dickson at 9 and the excellent Owen Farrell at 10 all contributing to England's halftime lead of 9-6.

For me, this game was all about the English defence holding out the expected and enormous Welsh attacking force and the Welsh defence having to cope with an English attack that not even they weren't expecting.

The hits were huge, bodies were relentlessly thrown down in the name of each cause and every ball was competed for with unremitting power.

Unfortunately though, the game's biggest influence was referee Steve Walsh.

Never far from controversy on or off the pitch, the New Zealander was, at times, blatantly ignorant of flagrant offences at the breakdown. Mike Phillips, the Welsh scrum half, had a frustrating day at the office as the English forwards slowed down a lot of ball at ruck time. It should be said, the vast majority of it was legal, but at times in the second half Walsh and his touch judges seemed to ignore hands in the ruck, forwards off their feet and players coming in from the side.

Referee Steve Walsh did not have his finest game

It wasn't just the Welsh who were hard done by. When Jonathan Davies rushed out of the defensive line to tackle Owen Farrell, clearly knocking on the ball in the process, the resultant lineout was awarded to the Welsh. When questioned by an English player, Walsh was heard responding nonchalantly that he got it wrong and dismissed it with a sarcastic sounding 'sorry mate'.

It does beg the question as to why referees from outside the competing 6 nations are refereeing these tournament fixtures?

The final result did come down to a huge decision by the officials. Luckily, Walsh and his line running counterpart referred Strettle's last minute try/no try decision to the TMO.

I believe the resultant verdict was the correct one as it was judged inconclusive.  Strettle's hand appeared to be underneath the ball and there was no apparent downward pressure.

Fortunately for the sake if this game, the result didn't come down to a Steve Walsh bad decision and Wales clinched a victory they had to work a lot harder than they had expected to earn their 20th Triple Crown.

With two home games against the French and Italians, the Welsh are now firm favourites to clinch their third grand slam in 8 years.

Pressure on Farrell

England v Wales

Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Date: Saturday, 25 February
Kick-off: 1600 GMT

With the news that Owen Farrell will play at fly half in place of the injured Charlie Hodgson on Saturday and with England wearing the rare tag of 'underdogs' at home, much attention has turned to how England will look to beat the Welsh.

I think the answer is pretty simple, and it won't be dissimilar to the way Scotland have played in the last few seasons - carry the ball through the middle with 2 big centres and kick for position.

If faults can be picked with the way the Wales team are playing at the moment, most criticism would be aimed at their lineout which has been far from secure so far in the tournament.  Ireland persistently disrupted Welsh ball in Dublin and Richie Gray had a field day against Huw Bennetts throwing in the last game against Scotland.

England will look to kick to touch to try and expose that potential weakness.  One huge benefit for the Wales team is the return of talismanic second row forward Alun Wyn-Jones to fold, a man who's presence alone will do huge amounts to settle the nerves of Ken Owens who starts at hooker for the first time in what will be his third cap.

The ever passionate Alun Wyn-Jones

returns to the Welsh team

Of course, to be able to pin the Welsh back like that, Farrell will have to be in very good kicking form.  Used to playing at 10 for Saracens, I doubt he will be phased by the positional change and his goal kicking has been sound following his performance in Rome.  However, thus far in the tournament, he hasn't been relied on a great deal to kick from hand.

With Sam Warburton back, Rhys Priestland in improved health and an in form Jamie Roberts, there will be plenty of Welsh arsenal firing at him on Saturday.

I suspect though that England will look to take the ball through a few phases before they kick to the corners when they can.  The re-introduction of Manu Tuilagi into the centre with equally physical Brad Barritt makes for an intriguing contest against the stalwart pairing of Roberts and Davies and should provide plenty of fireworks.

For Wales, aside form the lineout, they need to keep going as they have so far in the tournament.  The tag of 'favourites' at Twickenham will not sit well with them, and I'm sure Gatland and his men will be keen to ignore that pressure of the expectant.

It should be a cracker, but I can't see Wales losing.  They have only won 17 games away to England in the 5/6 Nations in 57 attempts, and never by more than 13 points.  Believe it or not, this is the best record away to England in the tournaments history and I see them adding to their win column.  By 10 points.

England Declare Their Intent

Stuart Lancaster revealed the England team he believes can win at Murrayfield for the first time since 2004.  His selection has thrown up 8 debutants in the 22, 3 of whom are starting.  The backs heavily rely on Saracens players and the back row looks as dangerous as it has for a long while for England.  So here's the full team:

Ben Foden; Chris Ashton; Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell, David Strettle; Charlie Hodgson; Ben Youngs; Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Mouritz Botha, Tom Palmer; Tom Croft, Chris Robshaw (captain), Phil Dowson.

Reps: Rob Webber, Matt Stevens, Geoff Parling, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Jordan Turner-Hall, Mike Brown.

The most notable combination in the line-up is the centre pairing of Saracens duo Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt, both of whom are earning their test debuts.  It's a risky strategy from Lancaster to field two international novices, but one where he is relying on the success of the partnership at club level to transpire in the test arena. 

Brad Barritt makes his debut alongside

Saracens teammate Owen Farrell

With 4 of the 7 backs plying their trade at Saracens (the others being David Strettle and Charlie Hodgson who have both endured long spells out of the English set-up), it would be easy to assume that the style of rugby Lancaster is looking for would be similar to that employed by the club, but Lancaster suggests otherwise, stating at today's press conference that "[Hodgson, Farrell and Barritt] are used to playing together, but we will use them slightly differently to how Saracens do."

In the forwards, the fifth Saracens player, lock Mouritz Botha, earns only his second cap whilst the back row includes a mix of experience and otherwise with Phil Dowson earning his debut, new captain Chris Robshaw and seasoned campaigner Tom Croft.  All three are good ball carriers and handy at the lineout, no doubt a specific tactic to confuse the likes of Hamilton and Gray.

The bench sees Lancaster continue to pick on form, with no evidence that he will be relying on experience if things start to go pear-shaped on Saturday. Harelquins duo Jordan Turner-Hall and Mike Brown are joined by Geoff Parling, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson with Matt Stevens and Rob Webber completing the line-up.

Lancaster has hailed his selection as "...a team for now, and a team for the future – we’re trying to achieve both."  Certainly, the first part of that statement is true as he has picked a team very much based on current form.  As for the second part of that statement being true?  Well I guess we'll find out over the coming weeks.  There are certainly a lot of players that will be looking to cement a place in the England team for years to come.