Six Nations 2012

[Dave Summers]

Stuart Lancaster to get England interview before Six Nations ends
Interim England coach Stuart Lancaster will be interviewed to become Martin Johnson's permanent successor before the end of the Six Nations.

New Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie confirmed he wants to formally meet with Lancaster and underlined his desire to appoint a new coach by 17 March.

Ritchie also revealed the five-man panel which will advise the RFU board.

Ian McGeechan, Conor O'Shea and Richard Hill will join Ritchie and Rob Andrew.



This sounds worryingly like they are going to give the job to Lancaster now.   I can't see them appointing Nick Mallett, who should get it and then saying to Lancaster can you see us through the France and or Ireland matches please?.

Please use your common and make sure this is a throrough process with the very best man chosen.  If they deem that to be Lancaster, then so be it, but can't see it myself.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree that we should be looking to get the best man for the job, but at this stage I haven't seen anything to rule Lancaster out from that. There upward curve of performances has been quite clear, and if they do select  him good luck to him.

[lovejoy]

Why rush? Defeats aganst Ireland and France would leave a 2-3 record which, in my opinion, is not good enough.

[Dave Summers]

I agree that we should be looking to get the best man for the job, but at this stage I haven't seen anything to rule Lancaster out from that. There upward curve of performances has been quite clear, and if they do select  him good luck to him.

To turn it around from that, I haven't seen anything from him yet that rules him in as the best choice for the job?.

Anyway, I am sure they know what they are doing.  If reports of McGeechan being on the panel to recommend the coach, then they have some seriously good Rugby experience there.

[PaulWinch again]

I agree that we should be looking to get the best man for the job, but at this stage I haven't seen anything to rule Lancaster out from that. There upward curve of performances has been quite clear, and if they do select  him good luck to him.

To turn it around from that, I haven't seen anything from him yet that rules him in as the best choice for the job?.

Anyway, I am sure they know what they are doing.  If reports of McGeechan being on the panel to recommend the coach, then they have some seriously good Rugby experience there.

Well quite I'd hope that by the end of the interviewing process who ever they select has been selected for a good reason. Who ever it is I will fully support of course.

[Dave Summers]

I agree that we should be looking to get the best man for the job, but at this stage I haven't seen anything to rule Lancaster out from that. There upward curve of performances has been quite clear, and if they do select  him good luck to him.

To turn it around from that, I haven't seen anything from him yet that rules him in as the best choice for the job?.

Anyway, I am sure they know what they are doing.  If reports of McGeechan being on the panel to recommend the coach, then they have some seriously good Rugby experience there.

Well quite I'd hope that by the end of the interviewing process who ever they select has been selected for a good reason. Who ever it is I will fully support of course.

Unless it's McLeish?.  :-)

I will support whoever they pick as well.   It's a terrific job to have, bringing England back from a low ebb in recent history.  Pick of the largest player base in the world and some of the best young talent anywhere.   A successful age group set up, particularly the U20's and there is much to be optimistic about.

All it needs is just pointing everyone and everything, in the same direction.

[paul_e]

I don't want Lancaster to get the gig full time right now, mainly because he'd been doing a great job at the lower levels and I'd really like him to get a development role instead.  Some kind of head of youth development, encompassing everything up to and including the saxons.  Then give the senior team role to someone like Mallett who has experienced everything at the very highest level and could use that experience to build up the younger players in the squad to make a real go of the 2015 RWC and then see where we're at.

The importnat thing is I think we're on the brink of a golden generation and really hope the choice is the right one to make the most of it.

[Dave Summers]

England: Ben Foden; Chris Ashton, Manu Tuilagi, Brad Barritt, David Strettle; Owen Farrell, Lee Dickson; Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Mouritz Botha, Geoff Parling; Tom Croft, Chris Robshaw, Ben Morgan.

Replacements: Rob Webber, Matt Stevens, Tom Palmer, Phil Dowson, Ben Youngs, Charlie Hodgson, Mike Brown.

Same team as the Wales game, which I guess was always going to be the case.

If we are behind though, I worry about a lack of pace coming off the bench to try and change the game.   Having said that, I thought that Lancaster made some unnecessary substitutions in the Wales game that contributed to our defeat.   I can't understand this fixation of seemingly having pre-determined changes whatever the score is.   If it isn't broken on Sunday, then don't fix it.

Quietly fancy England to sneak it on Sunday by around 5/6 points.

I see in other news that Jake White has "turned down" the chance of coaching England.   Amazes me how Wales can go and get Gatland within a few weeks of going out of the World Cup and we are still messing around nearly 5 months later.   Pick your man and go and get him, whatever the cost.  Not hard is it?

[PaulWinch again]

I think Jake White has been slightly out of order here, if you've been approached but you're going to turn it down why bother announcing you've been approached in the first place.

[damon loves JT]

I think Jake White has been slightly out of order here, if you've been approached but you're going to turn it down why bother announcing you've been approached in the first place.

Quite. It's like announcing that you've turned down an MBE.

[cheltenhamlion]

I have just approached White with a gun. He hasn't had a press conference about it yet...

[PaulWinch again]

Sharples gets his chance as Strettle is injured, hope he does well.

[lovejoy]

Sharples gets his chance as Strettle is injured, hope he does well.

The rugby Gods are smiling. Can't believe Strettle and Ashton are in the team in the first place.

[PaulWinch again]

Ashton is world class but out of form, I've got no problem persevering with him.

[damon loves JT]

I love listening to Gavin Hastings commentate on Scotland games. He sounds like he's having surgery without anaesthetic