“He said to me “I know I am a six”.
Advertisement
Sam Burgess wants to stay in rugby union and extend his contract at Bath with an eye on playing in the back row at the next World Cup rather than as a centre, the role handed to him by coach Stuart Lancaster during England’s disastrous campaign.
Stuart Lancaster insists England’s head coach needs “good luck, a tin hat and flak jacket” as he reflects on his near four-year Twickenham stewardship.
“I’ve had feedback from players who have worked with Andy outside of England who are British and Irish Lions and they found him to be an outstanding coach, person and leader”.
His bosses at the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has ordered a review into the World Cup disaster and several strong candidates are already expressing interest in the post. England were taken apart in all areas of the game, dominated at the scrum, where they were supposed to have the upper hand, and a clear second best when it came to finding pockets of space in their opponents’ defences.
“We’ve played a few brilliant rugby over the past 12 or 18 months and even before then”, he said.
The hooker has been named as a replacement for the game, which is a dead rubber after England disappointingly failed to progress from the group stages after losing to Australia.
Lancaster, though, said despite the game having no impact on the line-up for the quarter-finals it offered chances to those who had not played a part in the tournament so far.
Gatland said: “Australia have done us a massive favour, but I felt with 15-20 minutes to go, it was like sitting in the (coaches’) box myself because you are going through the emotions of what the coaches are doing”.
George Ford had been first choice fly-half for the past year only to be demoted to the bench for the pivotal match against Wales, which England lost 28-25, with Farrell starting in his place. “It’s impossible to get any cohesion, any momentum and build as one team if you’re constantly changing the players”.
“It’s very important we put a positive and attacking display together”.
Ashley-Cooper added: “We have had a good run against Wales, but anything can happen”.
“I have a little bit of concern, but I’m confident that once they come home to Bath their mojo, excitement and enthusiasm will be back”.
England team to face Uruguay: Alex Goode, Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell, George Ford.
“They weren’t surprised by the result, whilst the English would have been surprised”.
Advertisement
“A lot of people have written us off, and we have demonstrated that character when we are under pressure”.
