Andy Farrell has said the first job of England's interim coaching team will be to put the smile back on the faces of the players, and put the emphasis on getting the culture right rather than make winning a priority.
England have turned to Stuart Lancaster, Graham Rowntree and Farrell, the Saracens head coach, and the Rugby Football Union will name a permanent successor to Martin Johnson, who resigned as team manager last month, after the Six Nations.
Farrell, who worked with Lancaster at England Saxons, said: "I am part of a coaching team that has a responsibility to bring enthusiasm and enjoyment back. The slate has been cleaned, there is no looking back and part of our role is to make sure that the culture in the first week we are together is one of drive and excitement that gets smiles back on faces."
The former dual code international added: "We've got a good pool of players, but expectation is the last thing on our minds at this moment. It's about moving forward, having a look at a few new faces here there and everywhere. Get the main things in place first of all and the winning will come."
Farrell acknowledged that lessons had been learned from England's disastrous World Cup campaign in New Zealand. "Winning is secondary to something that you need to get right first and that's the culture: people believing in one another and playing for one another," he said. "That's what we need to focus on and if we can achieve that you know the winning will follow on the back of that. I suppose we've all got caught up in things other than rugby this year. And what's the main thing about rugby? It's about filling Twickenham and people going away happy."
The choice of Lancaster as the interim head coach has not been universally acclaimed, with the RFU accused of wasting the chance to hire a bigger name, such as John Kirwan, but Farrell said he only agreed to join the management team because of who was leading it.
"My first question when I was asked, through Saracens, was whether Stuart was the boss," Farrell said. "I know exactly what he brings, having been involved in the Saxons with him: he is as organised and as good a man manager as I have seen. With Graham [Rowntree] also on board, you have three solid, grounded blokes who are straightforward and who are going to enjoy our time together.
"Stuart and I bonded immediately with the Saxons. We both work hard and drive a positive environment. I have learned a lot from him and from Saracens in the short time I have been coaching. I'm not going to bring what I do with Saracens to England. We will decide as a coaching group how we will play the game and the players will have a lot to say in that. We've got a raft of experience and a lot of young guys who've got great experience. They've got to be heard. We will all pull in the same direction."
New faces are expected in the England squad, which will be announced early next month, and it may be that opponents are given both Farrells with the Saracens outside-half or centre Owen Farrell tipped follow his father, who won eight caps, into the senior team.
"He's been getting a lot of press lately and the reason he's getting press because he's playing well in big games," said Farrell senior. "There are a number of other guys in that age group doing exactly the same. We will watch matches over the next few weeks, and when the squad is announced I am sure the right thing will be done."
However, Sir Clive Woodward has warned the Rugby Football Union that deeper reform is needed.
The former World Cup-winning coach writes in the Sunday Times: "Predictably the next head coach will once again be selected and appointed by committee. Again, this leaves no one accountable for the results and only the head coach with his head on the chopping block. I also wonder if the incoming chief executive, soon to be revealed, will be too pleased to have had the RFU board make these calls before he's arrived. Anyone worth their salt for the role would surely want to make such vital appointments himself."
