STU & FAZ HAVE THE AXE FACTOR

I fear sacked coaches could come back to haunt England

LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO fears that the coaches England sacked after their last World Cup could haunt them at the next one.

Inspired by Stuart Lancaster and Andy Farrell, Leinster and Ireland have won the European Cup and a Six Nations Grand Slam respectively.

Dallaglio was in Bilbao for Lancaster’s day of redemption on Saturday and is impressed with the coach he has become.

“You listen to the players talking about his input and they can’t speak highly enough,” he said.

“Everyone likes a comeback story and there is probably none bigger than Stuart’s.

“He had a very public fall from grace after the World Cup.

“He took a huge amount of criticism, some of it fair, much of it definitely unfair.

“Out of adversity he’s risen again and he’s shown what he is – which is a great bloke and more importantly a very good coach.

“The irony now of course is that he is heavily invested in

Irish rugby, along with

Andy Farrell.

“The two coaches

England let go in 2015 could come back to haunt them.”

Asked whether Lancaster could return to the England fold,

Dallaglio said: “If I was him I wouldn’t be leaving Leinster any time soon given the group of players they have there.

“I don’t think there’s any need for him to rush back.

“Once you’ve coached the European champions there’s only one or two jobs you want.”