Tag: England

LANCASTER VS MALLETT

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Despite winning 3 out of 4 Six Nations games and seemingly improving England beyond recognition since taking over it is still unclear whether Stuart Lancaster will be given the England job on a permanent basis. It appears now to be a two horse race between Lancaster and former Italy boss Nick Mallett.

Former England Flanker, Lewis Moody is clear on his views he has come out clearly and said he feels that the current set up should become the permanent one because they have “been there and done it”. It is that they have experience coaching England, but when Moody made those comments they had only experience it in three matches, compare that to the experience, particularly internationally of nick Mallett.

He took a South Africa team, so often damaged by Politics and outside meddling on an outstanding 17 match winning run, he took Italy to levels they could not have dreamed of, namely beating France in last year’s Six Nations and he has guided both of these sides through two impressive World Cup campaigns, nearly defeating the great Australian side of 1999 in a thrilling semi final. And in between all of these triumphs he still found time to win back to back French League titles with Stade Francais. Mallett has in short always been a success wherever he has gone.

Since leaving the Italy job he has shown even further the levels he demands from his players. Before Italy’s clash with Ireland he commented that if Italy were more than one converted score of Ireland at half time they would be on the wrong end of a drubbing, highlighting mental weakness. Harsh it seems, but he was right and it was an issue that was never really a case in his time as Italy’s coach.

Mallett also provides a knowledge of the England side that many do not see, his time as Italy coach and his subsequent work as a pundit for South African TV has given him the chance to develop an intrinsic knowledge of the England side and this would no doubt come through.

So the choice seems to be between Lancaster, who has already proven to be a success, or Mallett who would no doubt be a success. Either way the RFU have two very strong candidates and the prospects look good for English Rugby.

ENGLAND WIN IN SCOTLAND

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Stuart Lancaster’s new-look England team emerged from a brutal baptism of fire at Murrayfield in the RBS Six Nations with a battling 13-6 victory over Scotland.

Fly-half Charlie Hodgson, at 31 years old the elder statesman of the England squad, charged down his opposite number Dan Parks early on in the second half to score the ultimately decisive try.

Saracens team-mate Owen Farrell kicked the rest of England’s points on a nerveless debut, while his partner and fellow debutant in the centre Brad Barritt caught the eye with a formidable defensive display.

Scotland controlled territory and possession but were typically profligate in the opposition 22, though little should detract from a stoic and spirited England performance, which earned them their first win north of the border since 2004.

Interim coach Lancaster has just five games to stake his claim for a permanent post, and following the besmirching of English rugby’s reputation after the World Cup he has sought to inculcate a new atmosphere within the whole elite set-up.

Any dramatic sea-change would only truly be successful if supported by results, however, and a gritty win at Murrayfield with such a vastly inexperienced side is a huge step in the right direction for both Lancaster and English rugby as a whole.

The ultimate destination may well be the 2015 World Cup, but focus within the refreshingly dignified England camp will not stray from next week’s trip to Rome to face Italy.

The Azzurri are notoriously difficult to beat at home – indeed they vanquished France at the Stadio Olimpico last year – and a defeat for England would be a devastatingly crushing blow.

Surviving the stern examination of Murrayfield, however, will fill Lancaster’s raw recruits with genuine belief that a bright new era may just have dawned.

CARE BANNED FROM DRIVING

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Harlequins and England scrum half Danny Care has been banned from driving for 16 months and fined £3,000 following his conviction for drink-driving. He was stopped by police on New Year’s Day and tested over the legal limit and went on to plead guilty to drink driving.

Care has already been dropped from England for the Six Nations campaign and has now also faced the legal ramifications for his actions. Care now has the chance to focus on rebuilding his reputation and regaining his place in the England squad.

Care has said he “accepts that I made a very bad decision on the evening in question” but does emphasise “that at no time did I think I had drunk enough to be over the legal limit.” Care’s decision to not contest the charge shows his acceptance that he was in the wrong and he is eager to move on with the situation.

His dropping from the England squad comes as a result not only of this charge but also of the charge of drunk and disorderly that Care received last autumn. He has a past with Stuart Lancaster, and would have been in with a good chance of starting for England in the Six Nations had it not been for these charges. If as is believed to be a possibility, Lancaster is given the job on a full time basis, Care will be in with a chance of playing a major role in English Rugby’s future.

For now though his aims must be to continue to impress with Quins and force his way back into England consideration. This is the case whether Lancaster remains or if someone such as Mallett takes the role. He clearly has the ability to be England’s 9, but must prove he has the correct attitude. In the light of England’s problems at the World Cup alcohol related issues look to be being taken very seriously and Care must now put the focus back on his on-field ability.