Wednesday 11 November 2015 21:24, UK
This is a sad day for Stuart Lancaster but it could be a bright day for the future of England rugby.
Lancaster brought a bit of humility back to the England team after what happened in 2011 but when it came down to it I do not think he was experienced or strong enough to stick to his guns.
The Sam Burgess affair will unfortunately define his reign and as I have said before it went against what we know about Lancaster to parachute someone in to try and fix England's midfield problems. I am led to believe he was not making those decisions and that others had a stronger voice then him which is never good when you are the head coach.
Lancaster has always been about the grassroots and developing players so to then go and select a player who has barely been in the game was a total let down. At the end of the day you are judged on results and the fact that England did not even get out of the pool stages in their own World Cup was a complete failure.
So who do England turn to next? Well the man I think England should move heaven and earth to get is Graham Henry. I don't think they will but look at what he has done with Argentina. We all know what he has done with new Zealand but he has been working with the Pumas as a consultant and has been key in changing their focus and the way they attack. It's no coincidence that he has worked with them and they were one of the success stories of the World Cup.
I would love to see him as a sort of England rugby overlord with the likes of Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick under him. I think Borthwick is the best set-piece guy out there - look what he did with Japan's scrum and how they dealt with the Springboks. Please don't let him get involved with anything to do with ball skills, but he can get England's front five firing again. In the World Cup the England pack were being shoved around by Australia - that is unheard of.
I think it has gone past the point of selecting another Englishman - there is just no one out there who has the experience. We need a hard-nosed guy coming in who is not afraid to call the shots and I think Henry and Jones are the men to do it.
The people who England have appointed have not been good enough - and that concerns me as well. Are the same people who appointed these coaches going to do it all again? Where is their accountability?
I don't think there is a place for Sir Clive Woodward - he has made it very clear that he does not want it and he has kind of burnt his bridges with the RFU. Yes, he has the experience and has gone through some incredible highs - winning the 2003 World Cup with England, to some lows - the British and Irish Lions tour in 2007 when he had all the players and all the money but was still whitewashed by New Zealand.
I don't think it will be a Henry though - or a Joe Schmidt or a Michael Cheika. If I was a betting man I would put my money on Warren Gatland to take over as England coach.
Focus
No matter who it is though they have to focus on next World Cup and be prepared to lose a few games as they look to develop their identity and settle on the best way to take their game forward.
The people who England have appointed have not been good enough - and that concerns me as well. Are the same people who appointed these coaches going to do it all again? Where is their accountability?
England have the players to be a success and I hope the powers that be make sure that the next coach has access to all of them.
Traditionally we have always had a strong Game A - based on a strong front five - but we need a Game B and that is what the next coach has to work on. We shouldn't be following what New Zealand are doing, but we have to do something or else we are going to be left behind.
It's time for a root-and-branch clear-out now and it's time for the Red Rose to flourish.
Watch Sky Sports 2 HD at 7pm on Thursday night (before Harlequins v Montpellier) for a Rugby Special on England's Future, with Stuart Barnes, Dean Ryan and Ali Williams joining Alex Payne to discuss Lancaster's exit and more.
