Stuart Lancaster has challenged his first-choice England players to start winning with immediate effect after recalling Nick Easter and Danny Cipriani to his senior squad for next month’s opening Six Nations fixture against Wales in Cardiff and offering Sam Burgess his first taste of representative rugby union in Ireland next week.
Neither Easter nor Cipriani is likely to start at the Millennium Stadium on 6 February but Lancaster has made it clear he is seeking a swift collective response to England’s largely disappointing autumn, with the 2015 World Cup fast approaching.
“I think the cycle of the team has reached a point where the development bit stops; it’s about the winning,” stressed the head coach, who confirmed Chris Robshaw as his captain for the campaign.
“The first game in any Six Nations is huge for all the six teams. We lost our first game last year and, whilst we managed to regain momentum, it hurt us in the end. For both Wales and England it’s a huge game in that regard. For us to get a win in Wales would be a big boost for the campaign.”
The 36-year-old Easter is back in contention for the England No8 jersey for the first time in more than three years while Cipriani, 27, has not featured in a Six Nations game since 2008. Both players were quick to express their delight and Lancaster believes their call-ups illustrate what can happen when individuals perform consistently well at club level.
He also hopes Easter’s vast experience will prove beneficial as England prepare to return to Cardiff for the first time since their 30-3 defeat two years ago. “Myself and Graham Rowntree have talked long and hard about it. Nick has convinced me he will buy into us as a group and I think he’ll add real value.”
Cipriani had been linked with a move to France if he was surplus to England’s requirements but Lancaster insisted he had felt under no pressure to select the Sale fly-half. “I don’t see where this last-chance idea has come from,” said Lancaster. “We’ve got a whole Six Nations period and the World Cup camp to go. I see Danny being around for hopefully the next three to four years.
“Selection will ultimately come down not to reputation or what people have done in the past, it’s what they do every week for their clubs. That’s how we select, on what we see. Danny will be in the mix like everyone else.”
Also named in the senior squad are five returning Lions – Mako Vunipola, Alex Corbisiero, Geoff Parling, Dan Cole and Tom Youngs – who missed out on selection last year through injury. Dylan Hartley has also been included but the Northampton hooker will once again be warned about his conduct. “I’ll be making it crystal clear to Dylan one-to-one, but more so the team, that discipline has to be top-notch,” Lancaster said. “There’s no doubt that if you give away dumb penalties it is going to compromise your chances of winning.”
Burgess is set to make his debut for England Saxons in Cork next Friday but is unlikely to feature in the Six Nations just a few months into his union career. “It would be a big step for Sam Burgess to make a contribution during the Six Nations if I’m being honest,” conceded Lancaster.
