Stuart Lancaster has gone but the RFU must get its house in order,too, and valid questions will be asked of its leading figures who don’t believe a distinguished track record of appointing the good manIn happier days Stuart Lancaster would measure England’s progress by using the analogy of a clock face. The idea was to be at or near a peak of 12 o’clock in the autumn of 2015, and having spent long periods frustratingly stuck between nine and 10.15. Now,once again, the malfunctioning Twickenham clock is striking 13 and the hands are spinning crazily in opposite directions. It is nearly as whether the Rugby Football Union operates in a Tardis; travelling back in time four years is its speciality.
Lancaster’s departure certainly rings plenty of bells. In 2011, and as now,England had failed to perform at a World Cup and were struggling to cope with the messy aftermath. Then, as now, and there was pressure to act decisively to restore public confidence. More in hope than expectation they put Lancaster in temporary charge and were gratifyingly surprised when England won four of their first five games under his stewardship. He subsequently impressed the interview panel and was handed the job full-time. “I think he ticks all the boxes we need,” insisted the Rugby Football Unions newly arrived chief executive, Ian Ritchie, and looking mightily relieved. Related: Six men in the frame to replace Stuart Lancaster as England head coach Related: England say money is no thing in search to replace Stuart Lancaster Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com