Matt Reeder: Lancaster has now re-written rule book for Pearce to follow

The way in which this former Leeds Carnegie man has handled both himself and his team has been a revelation.

Sure, there is still much work to be done on the field of play with regard this nation’s union fortunes, but for Lancaster, the job of leading his country was always going to be about so much more than simply getting results.

After a calamitous World Cup campaign which saw Martin Johnson’s much-fancied side return home early and in disgrace following poor form on and off the field, the rebuilding job for whoever took over was always going to be massive.

Many felt a big name would be needed to sort out the issues. Someone like Jake White or Graham Henry; someone who had the experience of leading a nation and, I suppose, who would need only wave their magic wand to make England great again.

Unfortunately, with Johnson gone, there was nobody either willing or available to step in immediately and the RFU had little option but to bide their time and wait for the right man.

When Lancaster was asked to step in, it was believed by most, if not all, that his role would simply be as caretaker, steadying the ship, settling things down and then preparing things for the next ‘big name’ to take the reins.

Lancaster, it was presumed, would then slip back into the RFU backwaters of youth development. Whether he succeeded or not was not important, he was only the stand-in.

The man himself, as you would expect, felt somewhat differently.

This was an opportunity.

With English rugby at its lowest ebb for more than a decade, Lancaster quickly realised that rather than being on a hiding to nothing, he was actually looking at something of a win-win scenario.

Indeed, rather than just taking things on as they were and simply ‘holding shop’ like a market trader covering for a pal on lunch break, he realised that he could actually make an impact. Why not try a few new things? What did he have to lose? Things could certainly not get any worse.

His refreshing approach to press conferences, to training methods and in the way he courts the media, coupled with the undoubted enthusiasm that he displays for the job, have given this nation’s rugby union set-up a real boost.

In only a few months, Lancaster has managed to turn what was surely one of the biggest negatives of English sport into a definite positive.

The team has reconnected with the public, the players seem to be enjoying themselves again and, perhaps most importantly, the off-field baggage which so blighted the World Cup campaign in New Zealand is being dealt with strongly and decisively.

Such has been the immediate impact of Lancaster that even with those ‘big names’ still circling, it would surely be no surprise if he puts himself firmly in contention to take on the job full-time.

Certainly, if he can add on-field skill to his off-field enthusiasm and organisation then it would seem foolish for the RFU not to consider him.

Whether he gets the chance to continue in the job or not, one thing is for sure – his impressive work so far will not go unnoticed, and maybe in years to come he will again get the opportunity to stake his claim.

Lancaster has re-written the rule book when it comes to caretaker managers and it is not just the work of rugby union which should take notice.

One of the first calls to Stuart Pearce this week upon his appointment as English football’s interim coach was from Stuart Lancaster.

Eager to wish his new ‘brother in arms’ the best of luck in his new role, you can bet that Lancaster’s advice to ‘Psycho’ was not only welcomed but also heeded.

There are certainly parallels to be made between the two jobs, the two appointments and also the two national teams.

Both men have been given the job with relatively little coaching experience at the top level, both are following in the footsteps of failed ‘superstar’ big hitters and neither is expected to hang around for too long once their respective governing bodies pick a full-time successor.

They are also two young(ish) men upon whom has been placed a great deal of responsibility. The nation’s football and rugby union teams in the hands of a 49-year-old and a 42-year-old.

The state of the nation when it comes to the worlds of English football and rugby union are pretty similar, too.

Both have experienced failed World Cup campaigns in recent times, both have players who have a tendency to get into trouble off the field and both have failed to live up to the expectations of their supporters.

Pearce has one game to negotiate – a friendly against Holland at the end of this month – before he is expected to have to hand over to the new man in charge; Lancaster still has three more Six Nations games up his sleeve to mount a case for permanent employment.

The problem for the FA is that their main candidate Harry Redknapp is tied into a pretty big job at the moment and he has already suggested that a dual role for club and country is not going to be a possibility.

With Euro 2012 on the horizon, it could mean that Pearce is asked to hold the fort ‘Lancaster-style’ until our knight in shining armour, Redknapp, can free himself from Spurs and take on the job full-time in the summer.

Should that be the case then Pearce certainly knows where to go for advice.