It was always going to be a tough job for Lancaster and his coaches to pick the team to take to the field against Uruguay this weekend. With the intense fog of disappointment from two losses still very much hanging over the squad, picking a side for a dead rubber against a team that consists 90% of amateurs was never going to be a task that brought a great deal of joy or praise.
But still, they’ve done it, and the general feeling was that it would be an opportunity to give a few of the fringe players a run out, and possibly even give the ball a bit of air time and try to run in some attractive tries for what should still be an attentive Manchester crowd.
To a certain extent, the team picked would suggest that is exactly the plan. Danny Care and George Ford are by far England’s most attacking half-back pairing, while Henry Slade’s presence in the midfield should allow them to play with the width that has been so lacking thus far.
The problem is, they seem to have just decided to throw every single play-maker they have onto the pitch in the hope that it will allow them to open it up. But it doesn’t quite work like that.
In Ford at 10, Owen Farrell at 12, Slade at 13 and Alex Goode at 15, they have four men who are more than comfortable as first receiver. They will undoubtedly bring the wingers into the game, but who is going to make inroads in midfield?
According to The Telegraph’s live-blog, this was a genuine quote from Lancaster’s press conference: “We’ve now got so many ball players in our back line I’m worried about who’s going to carry it.”
I’m not sure whether it was said jokingly or not, but he seems to have forgotten that he is the one that picks the team. But he does make a fair point – running a hard line and committing defenders is a skill that is not at the top of the list for any of Ford, Farrell or Slade.
Jonathan Joseph is on the bench, which seems confusing as he is a man that would keep a defence honest with a running threat. Sam Burgess, despite all the furore about his inclusion, is another who would offer that – not to mention providing a significant boost in interest for fans in the north, who have very noticeably remained behind the beleaguered league-convert this tournament.
If they were really that desperate to put on a show for fans in the north, would this not have been the very game that it made sense to include Burgess? And to be honest, for the first time since he has been included in the England squad, I think he would actually improve that backline.
The fact that it is Uruguay means that it will of course be a comfortable win, but while they may well be amateurs it does not mean you can just throw the ball around willy nilly. Remember, on opening weekend, it took Wales some time to break down what was, for a while, a staunch defensive line.
Elsewhere, it is tough to fathom what value there is in giving the likes of Dan Cole, Tom Youngs and Geoff Parling further run outs when there are youngsters knocking around who would do much better for the experience.
Jamie George, in particular, must be aggrieved not to get a start having played no part so far, while Kieron Brookes – the man most would agree is England’s long-term future tighthead – isn’t even named on the bench.
The fact of the matter is, this all sounds relentlessly bleak after losses to Wales and Australia. Whoever plays this weekend against Uruguay, and however well they play, it is unlikely to have any great bearing on anyone’s England future.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
As you know by now, we are hilarious, and you should be following us on Facebook and Twitter. 
Really good summary. Does ANYONE think that Stu is up to the job?
I echo the thoughts of an ex pro saying that RFU shouldn’t wait 3 months to sort out a replacement like last time. Let’s act decisively for once.
Another interesting article in the Telegraph: the 72 players picked by Lancaster. Most played fly half and centre is Farrell and Barritt. Says it all really. Some truly wasted caps in that list I can tell you; Botha, Stevens, Mears, Pennel (he got 1 minute is his solitary cap), Dowson, Tomkins and a lot of wasted opportunities too…
Hopefully press conference called by the RFU for Sunday!
Would be happy for SL to walk away with a mutually agreed parting of the ways, rather than being sacked. Nothing against him as a person, but we need something better. I only hope we get it! Was thinking that we might be regarded as a poisoned chalice, but then thought of Wales and South Africa and we might not be so bad, particularly as the pay day should be good. I pray we don’t have another typical English bungled selection and appointment process.
Agreed that Lancaster (and therefore probably his whole team) must walk, and I think he will. I was on the fence before the WC, as I thought they had been doing a reasonable job but ultimately recent results show they haven’t been up to it. I don’t want there to be a bloodbath like after the last WC, where things got blown out of proportion. The current coaches have done some good things and brought a lot of younger players through but they themselves must see they don’t have the experience (of bringing success) to take the players forward.
Added to that, I don’t know how they could summon the energy to continue after such a massive disappointment. And at the first hint of failure everybody would be on their back again. It would just make no sense to carry on.
As for who’s next, please let it be somebody with a proven record of success in international rugby (preferably recently). I don’t want another inexperienced head coach coming in, like the last few times and ultimately not being up to it.
The fans who watch rugby union in the north are rugby union fans who happen to be in the north. We aren’t generally rugby league fans turning up out of curiosity. Not to mention the small detail of Danny Care, George Ford, Owen Farrell, Geoff Parling, David Wilson and Richard Wigglesworth also being northerners!
Yes but there may be league fans there or encouraged to come is Sam was playing. Apart from that his selection makes far more strategic sense than sticking Farrell there.
I don’t know if I’m the only one who feels Burgess has been made a bit of a symbol of all that’s wrong with SL’s England? For all his inexperience I don’t think he has let anyone down and, imo, has outperformed BB in the main. I actually think his substitution in the Wales game was a key part of the loss. I for one hope he stays in Union and becomes a top class international player.
Burgess position.Bath and Sam agree he is a 6 and that is where he spent the last 1/2 of the season.What in God’s name persuaded Stu he was a 12 and the place to train him in this position was a World Cup!Totally and utterly insane!My cat would’nt make that mistake.And now he is going back to Bath as a 6.Totally unfair on Sam Burrell and the whole team.As just one example of muddled confused irrational thinking we didn’t stand a chance