Mike Tindall: England shouldn't sack Stuart Lancaster
Monday 5 October 2015 15:49, UK
Former England captain Mike Tindall says sacking Stuart Lancaster would be a waste of three years of progress.
Lancaster's position as head coach of the national side has come under severe scrutiny following the team's exit from the World Cup at the pool stages.
England became the first host nation to collect that dubious honour when Australia's 33-13 win at Twickenham confirmed their early departure, although they still have Uruguay left to play in a dead rubber.
While Lancaster has faced some strong criticism, the RFU have confirmed they will not make any 'rash decisions' in light of the World Cup exit and Tindall, who won 75 caps between 2000 and 2011, believes England should continue to back the coach.
"I don't think it's the darkest day ever," he told Sky Sports News HQ. "That's a bit melodramatic. It's unbelievably disappointing to leave a home World Cup.
"If you look at the two games, last week was the bigger loss for us. We had to win that Wales game. Australia have come over and looked sharp in the Rugby Championship.
"England had patches when they didn't play too badly in the game, but [David] Pocock and [Michael] Hooper just cleaned up. Whenever we had some threat they did the job on that.
"Then they were clinical, Bernard Foley had the game of his life. Sometimes you just have to accept you were beaten by a better team.
"It's the Wales game that will haunt them. They were in a position to win it and Wales stuck in there and just wanted it more. There has been a lot written about a witch hunt behind closed doors.
"I know every one of those coaches and I know they all work well together. I know the type of guys they are. Their integrity is not questionable and they will work together to get the best result.
"From the day Lancaster came to my house and looked me in the eye and said I wouldn't play for England because he wanted to go for a younger side, for three years since then I have been a big supporter of what he has done.
"The way he has changed the culture, he's built not only what you've seen on the field but behind in terms of the business and the RFU.
I would like to see him come out and say, 'I want to put this right' and go back out there.
"The past six weeks changed a few of my opinions, because for me I don't think he picked the right selection. So you've got what he's done for the past three years or what he has done in the World Cup.
"Did he panic in the World Cup? Did he question the way he was going? But you can't disregard what he's done in the past three years.
"I would like to see him come out and say, 'I want to put this right' and go back out there. If he can do that then it is very shallow-minded to not look at his whole tenure."
Andy Goode added his voice to those backing Lancaster to stay and says there is no need for "a knee jerk reaction".
"I think we lost 76-0 [to Australia in 1998]," he said. "Right now it hurts, as an English fan it was horrendous to watch and we were completely outplayed by the Aussies.
"But where we lost the tournament was last week against Wales. For me there is no need for a knee jerk reaction just yet."
