The Bath coach, Mike Ford, father of the England fly-half George, has accused Stuart Lancaster of picking a side “not to lose” against Wales and urged him to be more positive for Saturday’s make-or-break match with Australia.
Ford, also a former England defence coach, said that he learned during his spell with the national side that in the biggest games it pays to take a positive approach.
Lancaster reshuffled his side in an attempt to nullify Wales, including the introduction of Owen Farrell for George Ford, but they ultimately came up short against their Pool A rivals who snatched a 28-25 victory.
“For me he has to pick a team to win – I think the selection this weekend was a team not to lose but we have to throw everything at Australia,” Ford told the BBC. “He has to put confidence in the team and give them the courage to go out and play. He has to pick an attacking team.”
Lancaster is now under huge pressure to get a result against Australia and avoid the ignominy of failing to make the knockout phase at England’s home World Cup. “When I was with England, one of the things we got wrong was picking a competitive team not to lose, and you don’t win anything – ultimately you don’t win the big prizes,” said Mike Ford, who last week was critical of Lancaster’s decision to drop his son. “I think it is a negative approach and it is something I learned during my time with England.”
The former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll also encouraged Lancaster to take a more positive approach, restoring Ford and introducing Henry Slade at outside-centre. Slade has played only once for England but O’Driscoll said Lancaster now has nothing to lose and should introduce him in place of Brad Barritt.
“From a player’s perspective and an attractive rugby point of view, it would be brilliant to see George Ford back at 10 because he’s a players’ player,” he told ITV. “Maybe keep Sam Burgess at 12 and have a go with Henry Slade at 13. If Jonathan Joseph isn’t fit, throw Sam in. If you’re going to go down, go down fighting.”
Lancaster is not the only one under pressure, with the Rugby Football Union desperately hoping that England make the knockout stage to maximise the huge investment and logistical effort thrown at staging the World Cup.
The RFU chairman, Bill Beaumont, called on the nation to rally behind the England captain, Chris Robshaw, who has come under fire for failing to kick for a draw at the end of the match after England were awarded a late penalty, and the rest of the side.
“Hindsight is a wonderful thing but as captain he felt that was the right decision. You have to back him. He obviously had the conversation with his players,” Beaumont added. “But I think it is important now for the English rugby public to get behind Chris and the rest of the team for what is going to be a tough game against Australia.”
