Re-born Lancaster is leaving selection to others

IT’S good to see Stuart Lancaster making such a fine fist of coaching Leinster, with praise being showered on the former England head coach from all quarters. Players and co-coaches at the European champions- elect say that Lancaster is a track-suit professor of the game, responsible for honing the Leinster blade to the keenest of edges with his attention to detail.

However, there is an important distinction to be drawn between his job as Leinster head coach, and the role he had with England leading into the 2015 World Cup no-show.

Lancaster was the England head selector as well as head coach, and, in my view, he over-reached himself by also becoming manager.

At Leinster the manager, or rugby director, is Leo Cullen, and Lancaster says that Cullen selects the team. Even though Lancaster is bound to be involved in that process his job is to prepare the team – and this, he has told the Irish media, is what he did not do enough with England.

By contrast, he led the selection process, and it is in that area that he was found wanting when he was England head coach.