Coach Lancaster faces inevitable difficult spell, admits Andrew
RUGBY Football Union chief Rob Andrew is predicting some “difficult moments” over the coming months for England manager Stuart Lancaster, but has vowed the organisation will not lose faith with the inexperienced coach.
Andrew spoke to City A.M. after Lancaster named his 42-man squad for next month’s tour to South Africa, his first since being permanently appointed as Martin Johnson’s successor. An experienced former England fly-half, Andrew admits the trip provides unique challenges but reiterated the RFU’s commitment to Lancaster, who has been tasked with leading England to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
“The decision was taken when Stuart was appointed full-time,” Andrew told City A.M.. “He’s been appointed through to 2015 in the same way that Martin was to 2011. There’s bound to be some difficult moments. It’s an inexperienced group of players, and of the next seven matches, six of them are against the world’s top-three ranked sides. Inevitably there are going to be some difficult moments, but that comes with the territory.”
Citing South Africa’s physicality and the challenges posed by altitude, Andrew, who led England on a difficult 2008 tour to New Zealand, believes the destination to be the toughest a player can experience.
“There’s a lot of unique challenges to South Africa,” he said at the launch of the Marriott London Sevens. “Their passion for rugby is phenomenal. They’ve a lot of players, and they’re very physical. It’s probably the most physical tour you can go on.
“You’ve also got the altitude issue, with some matches at sea-level and others at altitude, which we don’t normally have anywhere else in the world. It’s a big challenge, as anybody that has ever been there knows.”
Though Lancaster recently missed out on appointing the experienced Wayne Smith as coach, Andrew remains on hand to advise Lancaster – “we talk about things quite a lot, to be honest,” he said – and promised the inclusion of several more young talents into the international side.
“Christian Wade, Joe Launchbury and Jonathan Joseph were all in the Under-20 squad last June. We’re producing young players who are moving very quickly through to the senior squad,” Andrew said. “We already know of George Ford, Elliot Daly and Anthony Watson. They’re not going to South Africa with the senior squad, but they’ll come through in the next 12-18 months.”
Join the 70s Disco at the Marriott London Sevens! Tickets are now available for the final leg of the HSBC Sevens World Series on 12 & 13 May, with weekend passes from £30, single day tickets from £18 and kids’ tickets £5. Tickets are available in advance until midday today, then in person from the RFU Ticket Office.