England coach Lancaster keen to deflect focus

Lancaster has been lauded for England’s victory in Paris last Sunday which added further substance to those championing his cause as England’s next full-time head coach.

But as the interim chief named his team to face Ireland tomorrow in a game which could see England successfully defend their RBS Six Nations crown, Lancaster sought to darken the spotlight focusing on him.

“I don’t think it’s about me,” said the 42-year-old former Leeds player and coach.

“There’s been a collective. The assistant coaches – Andy (Farrell) and Graham (Rowntree) – have been outstanding.

“The management team, the majority of whom went to the World Cup, have rolled their sleeves up and really committed to this new journey.

“And the players themselves have been brilliant, you couldn’t fault their effort, not one of them.”

Speculation about whether he will be given the job permanently after the tournament, or whether it will go to an external candidate, has been rife.

Former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett is the current incumbent’s main opposition for the job.

Yet Lancaster again refused to be drawn.

“I’ve tended to focus all my energy this week on getting ready for the game really so I’ve not put too much thought into the next steps or what the future might hold,” he said.

“It has been about preparing the team really. The job is so consuming with the number of things you have to deal with on a daily basis.”

Asked to discuss how long the procedure of appointing a full-time head coach could take, Lancaster said: “I couldn’t comment definitely on the timescales because it’s not my decision.

“There’s a group set up that are going to interview people and they’ll decide at whatever point they deem it. My job is to get the team ready.”

Lancaster has made just one change to the side that silenced the Stade de France with victory over Les Bleus.

Former Rotherham wing David Strettle returns to the No 11 shirt after pulling out of last week’s game with a sternum injury.

Charlie Sharples drops out of the team altogether.

The other change is on the bench with Pocklington-born hooker Rob Webber ruled out through injury.

Webber, 25, has made three appearances from the bench during the championship. Lee Mears steps up.

Halifax-born Charlie Hodgson is on the bench with Owen Farrell continuing at fly-half.

England can still win the title if they beat Ireland and Wales lose to France, although they need a 38-point swing in their favour.

“It’s going to be a great game,” said Lancaster.

“We’re very excited to be playing back at Twickenham in front of our own fans but also playing against a high-quality Ireland side who are probably a bit unlucky themselves not to be going for the grand slam when you look at some of their results and performances.

“It’ll be a great occasion and we’re looking forward to it.”

Ireland have won on three of their previous four visits to Twickenham and defeated England comfortably in Dublin 12 months ago when Johnson’s side were playing for the grand slam.

Rob Kearney this week argued their dominance of the fixture is purely because they are a superior team. Lancaster would not acknowledge that, but said: “They’re a good side without a doubt. Ireland will know enough about us to recognise we’re probably a slightly different side that has played previously.

“They’ll be looking at us in a different way.

“What will be in both coaching teams’ minds is what’s happened in the previous few games.

“I’d like to think our performances have improved but also we recognise Ireland are playing pretty well also. It’s set up for a good old game.”

England: Foden (Northampton); Ashton (Northampton), Tuilagi (Leicester), Barritt (Saracens), Strettle (Saracens), Farrell (Saracens), Dickson (Northampton); Corbisiero (London Irish), Hartley (Northampton), Cole (Leicester), Botha (Saracens), Parling (Leicester), Croft (Leicester), Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Morgan (Scarlets). Replacements: Mears (Bath), Stevens (Saracens), Palmer (Stade Francais), Dowson (Northampton), Youngs (Leicester), Hodgson (Saracens), Brown (Harlequins).