Spirit of ‘Doyler’ can lift Joe to glory
Warm-up win only a reprieve for English
AS ENGLAND embarked on a lap of honour following their recent warm-up victory over Ireland at Twickenham, rather than the celebratory act of a team setting on a path to World Cup glory it looked like an exercise borne out of relief and the temporary easing of incredible expectation. The English reaction to the win was predictably over the top. A swathe of former players and coaches issued predictions of England emulating their 2003 success, while their union felt it was a good time to declare that there would be no problem releasing coach Stuart Lancaster for Lions duty in 2017. Cool the jets, lads. It could be justifiably argued that Ireland were operating at around 60 per cent of where they would hope to be in a month’s time and yet they were still in with a shout of a victory that was never essential to their psychological well-being. England needed the win far more to soothe frazzled nerves but the reality is an air of uncertainty still hangs over Lancaster’s squad and has done since the likeable coach was burdened with a contract extension until 2020 last October. If they fail to reach the semifinals, Lancaster’s position will become untenable and, with Wales and Australia to negotiate at the pool stages, the intense pressure and scrutiny is taking its toll. England have a pack to challenge any other but still appear unsure about their best centre combination and whether George Ford (right) or Owen Farrell is their firstchoice out-half. There were no such doubts in ’03. When Lancaster oversaw the destruction of New Zealand in November 2012, it looked like a launchpad that could take them all the way to the Webb Ellis Cup. Nearly three years on, England look like a side still searching for surety. They have the talent to challenge for ultimate honours but the suspicion now is that the lap of honour two weekends ago may be their last for a while.