The Stuart Lancaster Fairy-Tale

I’m yet to watch a rugby film that’s really grabbed me. Although Invictus had its moments, the sports films I’ve loved the most, for my sins, are football movies. My personal favourite is Mike Bassett: England Manager, in which a relative unknown is plucked from the lower leagues and given the unenviable task of leading England into the World Cup.
The film is purely fictional, of course. In order to become England boss one requires experience at a top club, trophies in the bank and European success. This is, after all, how managers demonstrate their tactical acumen and ability to manage world-class athletes. Or is it?
Plucked from obscurity
It may surprise readers to know that England are second favourites with Betfair to win the World Cup in 2015. Naturally, home advantage will help that quest but the turnaround under the current coach has also been significant.
When Stuart Lancaster was appointed England rugby head coach in 2012, he actually had less experience than the fabled Bassett. He might have had credentials on paper – he possessed the RFU’s Elite Coaching Level 5 qualification – but as we all know, professional sport isn’t played on paper.
Lancaster was just 42 when he succeeded Martin Johnson. He had only ever been head coach of one professional rugby club, Leeds. What’s more, he was only in charge for two seasons.
In the first of those, Leeds were promoted from the second tier despite suffering four defeats (a relatively high number for the winners of that division). The following year they won just 2 of 22 Premiership games and were relegated. Not good.
Through the ranks
Despite his mixed record, Lancaster found a new job at the RFU as head of Elite Player Development. Leeds might have gone down but Lancaster’s career path was on an upward trajectory.
After doing sterling work coaching England’s U18s, U20s and Saxons sides, Lancaster earned the RFU’s trust. He was amiable, talked intelligently and developed an excellent rapport with England’s emerging players.
It also became apparent that Lancaster was diligent, managed people well, and had an eye for detail. What he lacked in top class experience, he made up for with meticulous preparation.
Consequently, when the RFU needed a caretaker manager after the underwhelming 2011 World Cup, Lancaster suddenly found himself in charge of England’s Six Nations campaign. One wonders whether he had a visit from his fairy godmother the night before?
Encouraging starts
Although England only came second in the 2012 Six Nations (they’d actually won it the year before) performances were encouraging. Lancaster charmed the media with his approachable, pragmatic personality, and eventually secured the job permanently. The fact he fended off competition from big names like Nick Mallett and, rumour has it, Jake White, makes the story all the more remarkable.
It remains to be seen, however, whether there will be a happy ending. England have improved under Lancaster but they’re yet to win the Six Nations. Results against the southern hemisphere giants have also been mixed. What’s more, the media have started to question his substitutions.
Keeping faith
Part of Lancaster’s strength is his natural optimism. This has rubbed off on his players and also, apparently, his employers. Just a few weeks ago the RFU gave him a hefty five-year contract extension before the World Cup.
Although this gives the team stability going forward, it’s a massive gamble. With Australia and Wales lurking in the group stages, England’s tournament could come to an abrupt end. On the other hand, should England emerge from the group stage unscathed, they have a good chance of winning the trophy.
If everything goes to plan next year, and Lancaster survives until the end of his contract, he will become England’s longest serving head coach ever.
Just think about that. England’s longest serving head coach, and by that time presumably one of its most successful, would also be one of the premiership’s most ephemeral and least successful head coaches. If that’s not a fairy tale, I don’t know what is.
by Matthew Harris