MY LIFELEIN

Lancaster out to repay debt to club who saved him from scrapheap after World Cup disaster

FOR Stuart Lancaster it is about repaying a debt of gratitude.

Settling up with a club which rescued his career when throwing him a lifeline after he was cut adrift by England.

The European Cup is not the World Cup – the tournament Lancaster’s England got so badly wrong on home turf in 2015. But it is still a mighty big deal.

And in northern Spain today, in front of a 53,000 sellout crowd, Lanny’s Leinster are hot favourites to lift the trophy for a record-equalling fourth time.

“This is more about repaying Leinster than vindication,” said the Cumbrian (right), whose reputation was badly damaged by England becoming the first host nation to perish in the pool stages.

“I still look back with huge regret that we didn’t do better in the World Cup.

“It was on my watch, it was my responsibility. But I don’t see it now as I’m trying to prove anything to anyone.

“What I’m trying to do is a good job for Leinster because they gave me the opportunity when I was in a difficult situation, being a coach who had lost his job – out of work, waiting, hoping to get another opportunity.”

According to Brian O’Driscoll, Lancaster has already taken big strides in the right direction.

“The Leinster boys absolutely love Stuart,” he said. “He felt quite badly burned by what happened in the World Cup and the aftermath, but he’s been a revelation.

“He’s on the training pitch every day and the boys have absolutely thrived on the back of his input and the quality and variety of his coaching.”

None more than playmaker Johnny Sexton, whose already stellar game has been so rejuvenated by Lancaster he is talking about playing until he is 40.