RWC 2015 fallout: England need to make big changes after such a terrible failure

NEIL BACK COLUMN

Both head coach Stuart Lancaster, left, and captain Chris Robshaw are under scrutiny (Getty Images)

I thought we’d make the final. After such a terrible failure, we need to make big changes.

An open review please

I don’t want to fall out with the England squad but I am not a politician either. I am looking at facts, figures and results. I felt passionately that England would get out of the group (and most likely Australia over Wales, with their injury problems) and that England could go on to the final, given our home advantage and handy turnaround time between matches.

But the pressure was ramped up and England weren’t able to deliver not even making it out of the pool stage.

Something’s not right. If there’s a coaching change it cannot be another in-house appointment. There needs to be a full and confidential review, but remembering the leaks of 2011, current players aren’t going to take part if they think Stuart Lancaster may be staying.

Sort out the scrum

Eighteen months ago England’s scrum was battering teams into submission. Last week at home for God’s sake, we conceded six penalties to Australia. A few minutes after half-time, when it was vitally important who got the next score, the Wallabies were given a free-kick and they opted for a scrum, England were penalised and Australia led 20-3. Amazing. Truly amazing.

I respect Graham Rowntree, the forwards’ coach, massively and I am sure England came up with scrum strategies, but they didn’t work on the day. Joe Marler maintained his controversial body position on the loosehead side and that was part of our undoing – not being able to adapt.

It’s not all about Marler – it was a collective problem. Take a lesson from Australia’s coach Michael Cheika. He came in a year ago, looked at what he needed and went out and got it, hiring Mario Ledesma – an Argentinean 80-plus cap front-row legend to transform an area of historical weakness.

Breakdown bungling

Teams like New Zealand have an advantage over England because from one to 15, they are smart at the contact area. Against Australia, England lost the breakdown convincingly against two superb opponents, David Pocock and Michael Hooper.

England are samey in the back row, and they and their team-mates are nowhere near consistently effective enough at the breakdown.

The missing No 7

For a long time England haven’t had a poacher, fetcher, stealer – that plays in a No 7 shirt who gives continuity in attack and is an absolute menace in defence, who’s continually the first, second or third person there at the cost of everything else.

If I am standing as a seven at first receiver, I can carry the ball into contact but I wouldn’t want to, too often.

I’d want to offload and put someone through a hole and then follow them to get the second touch from the offload so I’m playing again – or being the first on their shoulder, to clear that ruck out or move the ball away very quickly.

Chris Robshaw carries the ball very well, but when you are carrying the ball in, you are not the continuity man we need. This should have been sorted out well over a year ago. So we’ve got to develop that No 7.

Neil Back was a member of England’s 2003 World Cup-winning squad and earned 66 caps in all, plus five for the Lions.

3 key questions: Back’s view

1. Should Stuart Lancaster keep his job as head coach?

Maybe. The RFU needs to consult the best rugby intellect, with experience in the modern game, to write a specific job description and then make the appointment. It’s got to be brutal, and it’s got to be smart. Stuart Lancaster would be on the shortlist. Otherwise, I don’t want to pick a name out of a hat, because it needs deep, deep discussion and thought. I would love as an Englishman and an English ex-player for the next boss to be English but I don’t believe he has to be.

2. Should Chris Robshaw remain captain?

No. The captain has got to change, we need a different direction. Joe Launchbury, the Wasps lock, is a good candidate – he’s young, athletic and could go on to be a great player and a mainstay of the team. Maro Itoje is another possible choice, as is Tom Wood, who has captained England before.

3. Should England stick with their policy of not picking players based abroad?

No. I don’t think getting rid of it would create a mass exodus of players, and it would create a greater number of diverse environments in which our players can develop. Our under-18s who are doing well will have space to develop, so too our under-20s who have been World Championship winners in 2013 and 2014. As an example, what happened when Manu Tuilagi got injured? We discovered Jonathan Joseph. When Geoff Parling was injured we promoted Lawes, Launchbury, Attwood and Kruis. Gaps will get filled, and no-one is irreplaceable.”