Have your say: Time has arrived for Lancaster to make his mark

The rebuidling of England’s rugby union team, culture and image began in earnest on a bright, bitingly-cold winter’s day in West Yorkshire.

Stuart Lancaster has done much to transform the public image of the England rugby squad following their much-publicised World Cup disappointment both on and off the field.

But having given the game a face-lift off the pitch in his short time in charge, Lancaster is at last able this week to start work on rehabilitating their game on it.

He has the five days of this week’s training camp to start developing a culture and a game plan for the coming Six Nations and beyond.

Lancaster has already made his mark with the expulsion of Danny Care, the bold squad selection and the decision to break from routine by swapping the pre-Six Nations sunshine of Portugal for the blustery backdrop of the Broad Acres.

And at last he gets the chance to put his chosen men on the training paddock, to start drumming into them his vision.

In an ideal world, his team would play intelligently through the backs, with free-flowing alignment coming from deep.

That might prove fanciful in the Six Nations, with Scotland the first test at Murrayfield on Saturday week.

Lancaster’s assistant and forwards coach Graham Rowntree might hold the biggest sway this week as England’s new-look front line – consisting of five uncapped players, including York-born Rob Webber – get ready for the anticipated attritional curtain-raiser to their campaign.

Scrummaging and lineout drills may take priority.

That is if Lancaster has the players at his disposal to undergo such basic training.

Yesterday’s scheduled medical appraisal of the 36 men assembled in Leeds may have been a hide-behind-the-settee moment for the former Leeds player, academy director and coach.

Two chastening weekends for English clubs in the Heineken and Amlin Cups have left their scars; mentally and physically.

Luke Narraway has been promoted from the Saxons as cover for Tom Wood, leaving George Robshaw – with just one cap to his name – as the rumoured captain-elect.

Such a decision sits comfortably with Lancaster’s previous nod to youth.

But other players – other leaders – may come to the fore this week.

Tom Palmer, the former Leeds player, is a lineout leader and has the air of an assured on-field commander.

Dylan Hartley is one of the more experienced players left, while Halifax-born Charlie Hodgson could easily mark his return from the international wilderness by donning the captain’s armband.

The man to lead England will be decided at the end of the week.

Before then, there is plenty Lancaster has set up to occupy his players’ minds during their time in Yorkshire.

Their first big training session at West Park Leeds, Bramhope – facilities that would make most national league clubs envious – is scheduled for today, with the final cleansing of all things negative planned for tonight; the official title of that meeting being ‘World Cup review’.

Lancaster then heads to Leeds-Bradford airport for the connection to Heathrow tomorrow and the official Six Nations launch in London.

He will return in time for the visit of his first guest speakers, cycling guru Dave Brailsford, cricket’s Hugh Morris and rugby league’s model professional Kevin Sinfield.

Thursday night’s line-up is Gary Neville, Jamie Peacock and Corporal Simon Brown on what it means to represent your country.

By then Lancaster will have opened England up to the public.

On Thursday, an Under-13s tournament is to be held, consisting of eight teams each coached by an England player.

Friday morning sees invited Yorkshire schools and clubs afforded the opportunity to watch their England idols train at the University of Leeds’s outdoor facility at Westwood.

Typical of Lancaster, he is not just allowing the microscope to fall on his players.

He rounds off the week by putting himself under the public spotlight, when he conducts a Q&A session with 150 local club coaches.

This is a pivotal week for England but also one for the whole of Yorkshire to embrace.

They may have been tainted by the fallout from New Zealand but, by the end of this back-to-basics week, England’s players may yet again realise what an honour it is to wear the Red Rose, and that such a privilege should be forever respected.

That it is an adopted Yorkshireman, in Lancaster, in control of the broom which is sweeping through the England dressing room, can only be reassuring.