England’s head coach Stuart Lancaster will seek to postpone his squad selection for this autumn’s Tests in the wake of the 3-0 series defeat by New Zealand. Lancaster is officially required to confirm his list of names at the beginning of July but wants more time “to reflect” on the lessons of a tour which concluded with a resounding 36-13 final Test defeat.
Lancaster is also determined to ensure England never again have to embark on a crucial tour unable to pick key players for the opening Test because of a clash with major domestic finals. The team management remains keen to avoid excuses but its planning was hugely complicated by the non-availability of Northampton and Saracens players for the first Test at Eden Park.
Under the terms of the agreement between the Rugby Football Union and the Premiership clubs, the senior elite player squad has to be named in the first week of July but Lancaster argues it is wholly impractical to nominate his best players for the November Tests four months in advance.
“I’m hoping it won’t be July,” he said. “By the time you get to November some players have fallen in and out of form.
“Leading into a World Cup year I’m asking for more flexibility. That would allow me to make informed selections closer to the autumn internationals. In an ideal world we would have a squad announcement in mid-October and backdate the money [payable to the clubs]. It’s not very hard. For me it is a case of the later the better.”
Lancaster also admitted that losing many of his leading players for the first Test against the world champions had been “a huge challenge” and had an adverse effect on his subsequent Test selections.
“That scheduling issue has to be sorted and cannot be repeated,” he said. “It is unfair on the players.”
The three-Test series against the All Blacks, however, did confirm to Lancaster precisely who can and cannot cope with the intense pressure of top-level Test rugby. “We have certainly learned who can consistently deliver, both in a negative as well as a positive way.”
The normally calm Cumbrian revealed he had to deliver an “old-school rev-up” at half-time to “try and stimulate a reaction” after a sub-standard first 40 minutes bluntly described as “not good enough” by his assistant, Andy Farrell. He disagreed with the All Blacks winger Cory Jane, however, that the touring team were already on the beach mentally. “Emotionally the players were in the right place before the game. There wasn’t any player who wasn’t mentally ready.”
England’s captain, Chris Robshaw, acknowledged the result would leave “a sour taste” and wants his side to absorb the lessons swiftly. “It’s about being clinical. I don’t think there is any secret formula. They took every single chance ... that is the difference between New Zealand and us and every other team at the moment.”
Lancaster, meanwhile, indicated he would be scrutinising every position – including open-side flanker – between now and October to ensure England reach next year’s World Cup with the right personnel. He went out of his way to praise the midweek efforts of the Gloucester open-side Matt Kvesic and hopes he will now challenge Robshaw for a starting place. “We need more competition at seven,” he said. “I’m unequivocal in my mind in that regard.”
Lancaster also conceded England needed to push the All Blacks hard at home this autumn. “The November series is huge for us,” the coach said. “Overall I think our attacking game has developed over the last 12 months but the All Blacks are still the benchmark for every international team. We need to go toe to toe with them at Twickenham. It’ll be a different context in November than it is at the moment.”
