Stuart Lancaster has admitted that he is considering recalling several of the more experienced players who have sat out of the Six Nations so far due to injury.
The England head coach said a lack of experience was at the forefront of what cost his team in Dublin, as he watched the Grand Slam dream wilt and die in the face of a fired up Ireland.
“Joe Schmidt talked after the game about experience, not just at half-back but across the board,” Lancaster said. “Paul O’Connell is a world-class line-out operator and we’ve got two guys there in Dave Attwood and George Kruis who are learning their trade as second-rowers.
“And then there is Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray, both of whom are British and Irish Lions. That probably had a part to play in the game.
“We’ve huge amounts of experience in our backline in Owen [Farrell], Manu [Tuilagi], Brad [Barritt] and Mike [Brown], who weren’t involved. Our backline against Ireland was young and in this game, on the day, we suffered a bit, definitely.
“We also showed tremendous character, resilience, confidence to come back. But without doubt, there are lessons to be learned from the weekend. So we have got to improve.”
Lancaster will take in as much Aviva Premiership action as he can this weekend, with the focus being on those former stalwarts – the likes of Tom Wood and Geoff Parling – who have missed the tournament so far.
“There are definitely decisions to be made and I’m open-minded about making some changes,” head coach Lancaster said. “We have players of the calibre of Courtney Lawes, Geoff Parling, Tom Wood and Brad Barritt back in the equation and Mike Brown is fit.
“Selection will be based on a variety of things, one of which is their individual performances this weekend to demonstrate they are back up to the form and quality of performances we know they can deliver.
“There are big players in there who have delivered for us in big games in the past. When talking about momentum and motivation and all that sort of stuff, sometimes you can freshen the side up a little bit, particularly when you know you have trusted players available.
“They will come into consideration, but a lot will depend on this weekend without doubt.”
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
30 replies on “Lancaster considers recalling experienced hands for Scotland test”
Lancaster harping on about Barritt does not bode well.
Joseph is in tremendous form and yet he still wants to bring Barritt back into the fold? I despair.
All of those listed I want to see come back in, except Barritt.
The 12 shirt for England is still a nightmare, maybe Slade is the answer, but I’m not sure. But Barritt would possibly even come after 12T if I was listing who I’d like to see in the 12 shirt.
Any ideas when Tuilagi is fit again?
Assuming some of these are fit I’d go:
Marler, Hartley, Cole, Lawes, Attwood, Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola, Youngs, Ford, Nowell, Burrell, JJ, Watson, Brown
Vunipola, Youngs, Brookes, Kruis, Haskell, Simpson, Cipriani, Eastmond
That isn’t too far from what I’d have if everyone was fit. I’d bring Farrell onto the bench when fit, meaning you can pick Wade in the 23 shirt because centre is covered. I’d also bring Morgan in for Haskell and Manu into the 12 shirt. Launchbury in for Attwood and Parling in for Kruis too.
Other than that, I think we are pretty close to full strength based on what I’d pick.
Not much to argue with their I think. Looks pretty good and would love to see Wade bought into the team
Barritt? Seriously?
Can anyone tell me what he offers an England side, other than defence?
He doesn’t act as a second playmaker, he doesn’t distribute well, he doesn’t create space.
Question marks may be on Eastmond, but he offers more than Barritt, and holds his own in defence for a small player.
Experience may have been key to Ireland winning the game, but exposure like that for the lesser capped players is the only way they will learn. Constantly chopping and changing players in competition and in a world cup year, is detrimental to the development of the national team.
Wow. Talk about dazed and confused. Our pack were spanked by Ireland, it was men v boys and 8 fired up men who knew what they were doing – against 8 confused boys who looked lost. It’s done. Get over it. But to see the England Coach ‘worried’ about Scotland at home is too sad to even discuss.
“Owen [Farrell], Manu [Tuilagi], Brad [Barritt] and Mike [Brown]”
Oh … so he sees Barrit and Farrell as pluses for his backline then? Bye bye any two of Ford/JJ/Burrel? Wow, what a plank. He really was lucky against Wales. I mean, the team weren’t, better team on the day, etc. He (and England) are just lucky because that team wouldn’t have been picked by him if it weren’t for injuries and now he is compounding it by not taking advantage of that luck.
I’d like to think it was just paying lip service to players who have done a job for him before, but I’m really afraid that it isn’t
I can see us ending with Farell and Barritt in the centres for the France game
Agree on Barritt – just lost as to why he keeps being mentioned.
But I do still really like Farrell as a player. He clearly wasn’t fit in the AI’s, but that wasn’t his fault. I do think however that he’d have fared better than Ford did against Ireland on Sunday and is a very useful asset.
Ford has a better all round game, and SL has the balls to pick him against Australia when that was a massive must-win game so I think Farrell would simply have been a bench option – which is correct currently.
I also don’t like the notion that JJ wouldn’t have played except for injuries – SL was making really clear statements throughout January strongly hinting that JJ was going to get his chance.
However, I’m sure you are right that Barritt would have played at 12 over Burrell – which I can’t defend in the slightest.
I wouldn’t mind Farrell on the bench too much or as general back up option – but I think I would still rather have Cipriani on the bench
Say for the sake of argument, SL had subbed Ford at 60 mins during the Ireland match as he should have done. Who would yiou rather see running on when we’re chasing the game and need some inspiration – Cipriani or Farrell?
I do agree with your logic – but against Wales when we were up and needed to secure territory for the last 20, I’d rather Farrell come on than Cipriani.
Sometimes a bench is used to secure a tight lead, sometimes you’re chasing the game. But you can’t plan for that really.
Farrell on the bench allows SL to pick a back 3 player (like Wade hopefully), instead of needing centre cover which is another reason I like the idea of Farrell being on the bench over Cips.
ASIDE FOR TODAY
Hey Brighty! Now that you have covered philosophy – whats your aside for today?
How about deserts? – ever tried Crema de Limon? Shockingly simple and yet sublime. For a real roller coaster have a 70’s Prawn Cocktail with Guinness followed by Crema de Limon!! Prematch fireworks worthy of the millennium in your mouth!!
DDD
My favourite desert is Newport city centre.
He who live by the sword dies…………………
Suppose you could say I got my just d………..
ddd
Love it, so true
“We’ve huge amounts of experience in our backline in Owen [Farrell], Manu [Tuilagi], Brad [Barritt] and Mike [Brown], who weren’t involved”
This is beyond parody. That Barritt is in the mix is surely a wake up call to those diminishing SL supporters. I think that SL has done a good job at building a positive culture, and repairing England’s damaged image, but the hyperbole spouted about how poor a state England were in when he took over is incredible.
Fact: England were reigning 6n champions. We did badly in the WC becuase Johno lost his nerve after the Ireland thrashing in the 6n, and jettisoned some of the newer players who had not only won him a 6n, but had also beaten Australia home and AWAY. Many of the players capped by Johno have become SL stalwarts:
Corbs, Hartley, Cole
Lawes, Wood,
B Youngs, Tuilagi
Ashton, Foden
Add to that list regular players for johnno such as Care and Flood and that really is a very good base from which SL had to work from and not the hospital pass it was made out to be.
SL’s appointment could have worked had he got himself an experienced number 2, like SCW did in getting Ashtonand Mithcell involved early doors. SL made a half hearted attempt to get Wayne Smith and thereafter recruited Farrell and Catt, two coaches who lacked experience and had only just stopped playing. Now Farrell is clearly a decent defence coach, but his remit should gone no further. Why was there no further attempt to go and get a more experienced hand, if not an established DoR, then a good number 2 (remember Schmitt was number 2 to Cotter when Leinster hired him).
I suspect SL felt threatened by having someone more experienced.
Absolutely spot on Benjit. Too much has been made of England in 2011 in order to dress up what SL has achieved.
I just feel he gets way too much leeway Brighty. I sense the tide is changing, especially as there is a new golden child on the block with Schmidt.
The SL backlash is gathering pace. At this rate we might even win the world cup!
I know we clash somewhat over Barritt but other than that I am in total agreement with you Benjit.
Schmitt might just turn out to be the best thing to happen to English rugby. What beggars belief is SL appropriating Schmitts comment about experience and then using it as an excuse to go back to his tried and trusteds as though he is doing something radical.
The man is a busted flush. He’s painted himself into so many corners it’s a wonder he can still get out of the house. Kruis,ok yes he is still a novice at this level but Attwood? Tenuous call that. He was one of the players of the AI’s and apart from last week has done very little wrong and most things right. The standard of man management is appalling. This weeks message is “experience counts”. If it goes tits against Scotland what will the new buzzword be?
The man is just an egotistical,arrogant,blinkered non entity.
Sorry rant over but FFS……………………..!
Total nonsense, thank you for playing
I’m sorry? what (If anything ) is nonsensical about my comment? I’m eager to learn.
I think he’s the right guy to lead us off the field, but not on it.
Media, relationships with club, long term strategy on player pathways and development, player welfare. I’ve no issue with his ability in these areas (and they are all important)
Game plan, skills, tactical nous, substitutions are more negative than positive and selection is a bit hit and miss.
Yes he does deserve some credit for fixing what had gone wrong in 2011, but this was done by the first game of the 2012 6N. The mechanic fixed the broken car, but we needed an engineer to design a better one.
The conversation with Smith should have been a very simple one “I’ll take care of all the shit you don’t want to do, you come here and take care of the rugby, what will it take to get you to say yes?”
I am very worried about the RWC. It’s the only time in a 4 year cycle the coaches get a full pre-season to really prepare the players. This is where the quality or otherwise of the coaching will show and also why, although others give him a lot of stick, I have a lot of respect for Gats.
@DDD
My fravorite deset is the Gobi as I think the Sahara is overrated. Although saying that technically Antartica is also a desert and they have penguins
Touché Leon!
DDD
Really should spell check my posts before calling you out on your spelling but seem to have gotten away with typing deset.
Just desserts… snigger snigger
You shouldn’t be so self-defecating Leon!
Opps! there it goes again!
DDD
Barritt, Farrell and Brown eh?
Well against Ireland, I am not sure that any of them would have made a difference. However, I reckon the area where England ended up short against Ireland was the subs – Twelvetrees? Much rather either Farrell or Barritt coming on there.
Croft – much rather Wood coming on there – or even Clark.
Easter? I think he did OK, but on balance would rather Lawes.
Wigglesworth – probably not a popular choice but I thought he did OK as well.
I think England lost against Ireland because they bottled the box kicks, and knocked on too much…
plus they cocked up those line outs in an area of the field you must not….why did they throw long twice in a row??….and loose it????school boy errors
and silly penalties….I hope they learn from the replay/debriefs…but will they?
We have great backs….but if you don’t give them the ball they can’t score it’s a simple game rugby….pass it wide…let the runners run, play in oppositions half, and don’t over complicate it
most importantly especially in international football……play quick ball if you allow defences to set you just get fat blokes trying to run into other fat blokes, and getting in the way of the backs who can catch /run/pass
Laws back in, keep penalties to nil….job done
Back line should be; Care, Ford, Eastmond, JJ, Wade, May and Watson at FB
If he drops JJ then there ain’t no sanity clause! In fact if he does drop Joseph for the Scotland game then he should just be told to go forth and multiply,end of. Brown, Watson,JJ, Barritt,Nowell, Ford ,B Youngs,Cole, T Youngs, Marler,Kvesic,B Vunipola,Robshaw, Attwood,Lawes.
Teecee
Steady on Top Cat! Who you think you are, me? Forget Chuckles btw, he’s having a laugh.
S Times hacks, Jones & Barnes dish Irish blame on coaching (lack of) & advocate ditching the anon skipper!
Bit early to call Schmidt ‘God’ just yet as he’s still to play Wales next Sat, but his team outplayed England @ the breakdown, England didn’t handle the up & under & the backline, were slow in distributing & still ran ‘sideways’, i.e., lacked basic skills @ speed & under pressure.
Talk of player change is therefore somewhat academic unless Lancaster can (?) rectify aforementioned basic faults.