Lancaster confident gap is closing on All Blacks

Lancaster’s England came up short once again against the world’s top-ranked team in front of a record attendance at rain-lashed Twickenham on Saturday.

Despite a blistering, fearless start by the hosts, they were unable to sustain that intensity and eventually succumbed to the street-wise All Blacks, who drained the life out England in the teeming rain.

It was England’s fourth loss in a row, all of them at the hands of New Zealand, who continue to be the standard bearers in world rugby.

England drop below Australia in the International Rugby Board’s revised rankings this morning, following their defeat and the Wallabies’ win in Wales.

But with just 10 months to go to the start of the 2015 World Cup, Lancaster is certain that despite not playing Richie McCaw’s side again, they can make up the deficit.

“Absolutely we’ve got the time to make up the gap,” said Lancaster, whose side succumbed 24-21 to the Kiwis.

“I don’t think in any games we’ve played we felt we’ve really been dominated by them.

“Obviously, first half of the third Test (in the summer) was the only time, but if you go back to this time last year, if you go back to the first and second Tests in the summer, we don’t believe the gap is that big at all.

“We haven’t got the right result but we don’t feel like we’re far away. In the first half, we were pretty close if not level.

“We’ll have another 12 months inside us. And don’t forget we’ve got seven British Lions not playing when we didn’t have many to start with.

“We’ve got some good players watching the game so we’ll keep our confidence and maintain the direction in which we are going.”

Lancaster was quick to dismiss the notion that the recent run of defeats increased the pressure on Saturday’s second autumn appointment against South Africa.

The Springboks are the only team England have not beaten under Lancaster, but they were thrashed 29-15 by Six Nations champions Ireland in Dublin on Saturday night.

Lancaster said: “Every game is pressure. When you’re at home, you want to win because there’s a full house and people around the country wanting you to win. That’s where the pressure comes from for me.

“The reasons why we struggled in New Zealand were a little bit out of our control, to be honest.

“We were without the Premiership finalists for the first Test, then they arrived, some were happy, some weren’t and you’re trying to integrate them.

“I’m not making excuses for that tour, but you look at the context of each game. It’s a big game next week but it was always going to be; win, lose or draw against New Zealand.”

England have not won since thrashing Italy in Rome in March, but Lancaster insists the recent misfortunes – brought about by such a tough schedule against the All Blacks – has not dented his team’s self-belief.

“The players understand the reasons why we didn’t win that game,” continued Lancaster.

“The trick is to translate that into winning performances. I don’t think it dents self-belief but clearly you want to win them by three and not lose them by three.”

Lancaster felt it was the key moments that swayed the game the way of the world champions.

England led 14-11 at the break but were punished for a slow start to the second period.

He said: “First half, there were a lot of positives to take and Jonny May scored a great try and showed what he can do on the international stage.

“I thought we came through a lot of phases of attack and put them under pressure defensively, but you’ve got to take those moments when they’re there.

“That’s not the reason we lost the game but you’ve got to take them when they’re on offer. You know it might come back and bite you.

“The third quarter was where we lost the grip on the game.

“We need to make sure we nail those key moments.

“When we review it the boys will be disappointed. Ninety-five per cent of our defence was very good.

“But you cannot afford one or two errors because the difference between New Zealand and any other team is they take those.”

Twickenham match report and reaction: Page 5.