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| Stuart Lancaster’s new deal removes distractions on road to World Cup | Stuart Lancaster’s new deal removes distractions on road to World Cup |
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| The endorsement of Stuart Lancaster as England’s head coach until 2020 will feel strange to some. In a world of X-Factor deadlocks and weekly Great British Bake Off verdicts, it contrasts massively with the result-driven, short-termist mainstream. Given Lancaster’s biggest challenge, next year’s Rugby World Cup on home soil, is still just under a year away, it is also a brave call. How can anyone truly know if their local baker is a world-beater until his or her signature sponge has emerged from the oven? | |
| The Rugby Football Union, however, clearly regards its unassuming Cumbrian as well worth that punt. In many ways it is a clear-sighted move, not least because of the historical precedents. Sir Clive Woodward did not win the World Cup at his first attempt. Neither did Sir Graham Henry. Both achieved their knighthoods only after significant trial and error. Giving Lancaster the chance to preside over a couple of World Cup campaigns could work to England’s advantage eventually, even if they fall short next year. | The Rugby Football Union, however, clearly regards its unassuming Cumbrian as well worth that punt. In many ways it is a clear-sighted move, not least because of the historical precedents. Sir Clive Woodward did not win the World Cup at his first attempt. Neither did Sir Graham Henry. Both achieved their knighthoods only after significant trial and error. Giving Lancaster the chance to preside over a couple of World Cup campaigns could work to England’s advantage eventually, even if they fall short next year. |
| It also removes another significant distraction from the equation before the 2015 tournament. Of course Lancaster will still be under pressure to win the tournament, but everyone already knows precisely where they stand. Merely renewing his contract for a couple more years might have achieved that same goal but would still have left the question of “what happens next?” floating in the Twickenham breeze. Whatever the outcome in 2015 it also removes another problematic practical issue: there will be no disruptive management interregnum in 2016, as has frequently been the English tradition. | It also removes another significant distraction from the equation before the 2015 tournament. Of course Lancaster will still be under pressure to win the tournament, but everyone already knows precisely where they stand. Merely renewing his contract for a couple more years might have achieved that same goal but would still have left the question of “what happens next?” floating in the Twickenham breeze. Whatever the outcome in 2015 it also removes another problematic practical issue: there will be no disruptive management interregnum in 2016, as has frequently been the English tradition. |
| That sense of limbo is precisely what the RFU wishes to avoid, having finally escaped the lurching years of knee-jerk planning and political manoeuvres. Regardless of what happens next year it would have been looking to retain Lancaster in some managerial capacity anyway. Not only has he proved a welcome unifying force between union and clubs but his knowledge of the conveyor belt of young talent coming through is encyclopaedic. | That sense of limbo is precisely what the RFU wishes to avoid, having finally escaped the lurching years of knee-jerk planning and political manoeuvres. Regardless of what happens next year it would have been looking to retain Lancaster in some managerial capacity anyway. Not only has he proved a welcome unifying force between union and clubs but his knowledge of the conveyor belt of young talent coming through is encyclopaedic. |
| Among his particular strengths are his bedside manner and ability to plan long-term, both qualities any employer would covet. He already has a plan for each and every day between now and 2015; it would be absolutely no surprise to learn many of the building blocks for 2019 are already logged on a spreadsheet somewhere. | Among his particular strengths are his bedside manner and ability to plan long-term, both qualities any employer would covet. He already has a plan for each and every day between now and 2015; it would be absolutely no surprise to learn many of the building blocks for 2019 are already logged on a spreadsheet somewhere. |
| The downsides? Staleness, perhaps, but as a former teacher Lancaster is bright enough to know how to vary both the message and the delivery. With a consistent succession plan in place, younger English coaches can also be drafted in when required without rocking too many boats. Paul Gustard, Alex Sanderson, Nick Walshe, Rob Baxter, Ali Hepher, Alex King, Toby Booth ... all of them possess excellent Premiership brains which, in time, could make them Test coaching material. It makes for a virtuous circle and diminishes the need to rush out and find a big-name overseas coach for the sake of it. | The downsides? Staleness, perhaps, but as a former teacher Lancaster is bright enough to know how to vary both the message and the delivery. With a consistent succession plan in place, younger English coaches can also be drafted in when required without rocking too many boats. Paul Gustard, Alex Sanderson, Nick Walshe, Rob Baxter, Ali Hepher, Alex King, Toby Booth ... all of them possess excellent Premiership brains which, in time, could make them Test coaching material. It makes for a virtuous circle and diminishes the need to rush out and find a big-name overseas coach for the sake of it. |
| Then again, there is always the lurking intervention of events, dear boy. Long-term contracts a la Alan Pardew, Arsène Wenger and Brian Ashton (once signed on a six-year deal by the Irish Rugby Football Union) do not necessarily guarantee success. Not many will be queueing up to salute the RFU’s masterstroke should England go down by 20 points to Warren Gatland’s Wales in next year’s World Cup Pool A and subsequently fail to make the knockout stages. With another five years on everyone’s contract, it would be an expensive slate to wipe clean, get-out clauses or not. | Then again, there is always the lurking intervention of events, dear boy. Long-term contracts a la Alan Pardew, Arsène Wenger and Brian Ashton (once signed on a six-year deal by the Irish Rugby Football Union) do not necessarily guarantee success. Not many will be queueing up to salute the RFU’s masterstroke should England go down by 20 points to Warren Gatland’s Wales in next year’s World Cup Pool A and subsequently fail to make the knockout stages. With another five years on everyone’s contract, it would be an expensive slate to wipe clean, get-out clauses or not. |
| The RFU will know all this already. This summer’s 3-0 Test series defeat in New Zealand is still fresh. And guess what? They have still chosen to tie up their man – and all his assistants – for another five years. Why? Because, as the RFU’s chief executive Ian Ritchie was keen to stress, the union blazers have had their fill of boom and bust. They are encouraged by what they have; they understand that England have an even better chance of winning in Japan in 2019 than they do in 2015 and have reacted accordingly. Instead of reacting belatedly they have made all their opponents sit up. A confident, settled England is potentially bad news for many. | The RFU will know all this already. This summer’s 3-0 Test series defeat in New Zealand is still fresh. And guess what? They have still chosen to tie up their man – and all his assistants – for another five years. Why? Because, as the RFU’s chief executive Ian Ritchie was keen to stress, the union blazers have had their fill of boom and bust. They are encouraged by what they have; they understand that England have an even better chance of winning in Japan in 2019 than they do in 2015 and have reacted accordingly. Instead of reacting belatedly they have made all their opponents sit up. A confident, settled England is potentially bad news for many. |
| Furthermore, anyone who regards this decision as a recipe for English complacency does not know Lancaster very well. He has waited patiently for his chance and remains as fiercely committed as ever. His team are also on an upward trajectory. | Furthermore, anyone who regards this decision as a recipe for English complacency does not know Lancaster very well. He has waited patiently for his chance and remains as fiercely committed as ever. His team are also on an upward trajectory. |
| Given the situation he inherited can it really be classed as a failure on his part if England do not win the 2015 final? Ritchie has already made his call, clearly believing Lancaster deserves another shot regardless. Brian Ashton, ousted in favour of Martin Johnson in 2008, will be among those smiling wryly at the RFU’s extravagant show of faith. Now it is up to Lancaster to repay it. | Given the situation he inherited can it really be classed as a failure on his part if England do not win the 2015 final? Ritchie has already made his call, clearly believing Lancaster deserves another shot regardless. Brian Ashton, ousted in favour of Martin Johnson in 2008, will be among those smiling wryly at the RFU’s extravagant show of faith. Now it is up to Lancaster to repay it. |