the best caretaker since Mr Griffiths?
- Stuart Lancaster
So, the RFU in their infinite wisdom have appointed a stop gap. A filler. A caretaker coach with no experience of international Test match rugby. It’s short term, reactionary guff from the people employed to manage the long term, strategic plans of English rugby.
But caretakers can be good. Mr Griffiths was a legend at Grange Hill. Strict – he took no nonesense but was caring (remember Harriet the donkey?), loyal and committed (remember how upset he was when the Inspectors’ visit discovered he was over pensionable age and Mrs McClusky was forced to pension hm off?). Perhaps Mr Lancaster could prove to be just as good if not better?
Is he able to nab Tuilagi smoking round the back of the science lab? Precipitate the expulsion of Tindall in the act of drinking Thunderbird round the bike sheds and picking on the little kids? Will he report Ashton to his parents for pulling hair? Is he able to put an arm around Ro-land Little Jonny when he’s beating himself up inside?
Certainly the interviews I’ve seen and read seem to suggest that this may be just what the team need. A bit of a clear out of old clutter, a good sweep through and dust down but making sure the valuable older stuff is looked after properly. Excellent caretaker stuff.
He may not have international experience but imagine if the 6Nations goes well…imagine he is able to get the team playing as a cohesive unit as opposed to a disparate group of individuals as they did at times during the World Cup. Imagine there’s no heaven, it’s easy if you try. What if he is able to get the team playing a recognisable and successful game plan? Just imagine he had a vision of what he wanted to achieve, rather than the game by game approach MJ seemed to prefer and he worked out a plan to achieve it over time? If the RFU could see this they could keep him on and by 2015 he’d have his vision realised a loyal, experienced group of players plus four years of international test match rugby experience. Imagine that.
In my heart I want this to happen. I want the team to be cleared out in the same way the coaching staff have. I want Stuart Lancaster to have brave and bold ideas that he is able to put into practice and that will re-invigorate the players who will realise their potential and create a team of perfectly balanced power and speed and guile…
But my head says even if he demonstrates all these qualities and attributes the RFU will not look beyond the immediate and they will look to appoint an established international coach regardless. His time in charge will be short but I hope they keep him on in the set up somewhere…even if it is just a Mr Griffiths to Nick Mallet’s Mr Bronson.
Interesting post. Brought back good memories of Grange Hill! Agree with you that England need a clearout- Wilko to go, Thompson, Hape, Banahan, and Tindall. Yes I think they’ll go for an established International coach. Should go for Mallet or Eddie Jones. England have the nucleus of a good team.
Thanks for your comment. Agree with your ‘Expendables’ list, Thompson’s already made that decision for Lancaster I s’pose. Banahan really is the only one i’d be tempted to keep for a bit (i’m not a Bath fan) – he’s really the only physically imposing back available. I think he has paid the price of poor passing skills both at England and at Bath – it seems he has to take the ball standing relatively still and flat due to a lack of confidence in the centres, negating his effectiveness which is really receiving at pace from a deeper position. The same happened with Ben Cohen too post 2003. Still could be a useful weapon if coached and fed appropriately? (Banahan, not Cohen!)
Just heard Jeremy Guscott say that Johnsn’s first mistake was picking the captain and then the team and this time it should be done the other way round. I dont remember him inputting wisdom of this calibre at the time but nevertheless its a valid point – which begs the question: who should be the next England capain?
(I think I can hear Haskell jumping up and down with his hand in the air already. “Sir! Sir! Pick me, pick me! I’ll do it, sir! Pleeeaaasssse! It’d be great for Brand Haskell! Awww…go on! Would I be any good? Just ask me! I’d be great! Magnificent even!”)