Stuart Lancaster has 'no problem' with World Cup review
Thursday 8 October 2015 22:06, UK
England head coach Stuart Lancaster says he has "no problem" with the RFU's Rugby World Cup review, and will take a full part in it.
Lancaster has been strongly criticised for his part in what was a disastrous tournament for England, who became the first host nation to be knocked out of a World Cup at the group stage, after defeats at Twickenham to Wales and Australia.
As a result, the Rugby Football Union will now undertake a post-tournament review, which is normal procedure but which on this occasion is likely to examine Lancaster and his assistants' future.
Lancaster has a contract with England until 2020 and says he will take a full part in the post-World Cup review with the aim of making improvements.
"There will be a lot made out of the review that is to come," he said. "I have no problem with the reviews.
"I've conducted them myself in age grade teams and after every tournament or Six Nations. The whole purpose of them is to get better."
Lancaster is convinced he has demonstrated his credentials as an international coach though, and he refuses to signal the end of his England stewardship.
"I've had 45 games in charge now, which makes me the second most experienced England coach," Lancaster said.
"The win percentage was never high enough for me, but I have learned a lot along the way and I back myself to coach at this level, no doubt about it.
"We've drawn with South Africa and we've beaten every other international team along the way, but you get judged on the one thing (the World Cup).
"Results define coaching success, but equally there are a lot of other things from which I take confidence in the way I prepared this team.
"But it's not just about me. There are other people who have got their opinions. And then there is what the review says and what the RFU say.
"I need to reflect in due course. I haven't had the time this week. I've been flat out preparing for the game That will come over the next.
"It's a tough job, there's no denying it. I'm very proud to do the job and put an awful lot of work into it over the past four years. But we'll see."
Lancaster said it had taken "some work" to get everybody focused on Saturday's game but warned that his new-look side packed with creativity would not be tossing the ball around sevens-style from the off.
"Uruguay have specific tactics - they don't contest line-outs and put very few players in the breakdowns," he said.
"They are very proud to play for their country, so if we decide to run the ball from everywhere we will make life difficult for ourselves."
