ENGLAND MUST DELIVER
No margin for mistakes as the red rose has to flourish
WHEN Stuart Lancaster addressed a sell-out crowd at the O2 Arena last week during England’s ‘send-off ’ event, his rousing speech concluded with a World Cup mission statement: ‘I hope we win it. I’m sure we will.’
As he spoke from behind a lectern on the elevated stage, with a giant, illuminated Red Rose as the backdrop and his face displayed on screens alongside, England’s coach could have been mistaken f or a presidential candidate talking at a glitzy, Stateside political rally.
Lancaster is an accomplished public speaker and, by the time he had finished, the audience were eating out of his hand. Some were more interested in the imminent arrival of Take That, but they clearly believed what they had heard. The man on the stage had been utterly convincing and would have won their vote. He departed to a standing ovation.
Now, having heard the manifesto, the people await the proof. The clock has stopped. This is not a drill. The time has come for England to back up all their words of confidence and conviction. They will be glad that it is time for action; that the equation i s no l onger hypothetical, but oh so very real. After 42 Tests under Lancaster, his squad must show that their often absorbing and heartening tale of collective endeavour and sometimes painful development can end in triumph.
Ahead of tonight’s tournament opener against Fiji at Twickenham, the English standard-bearers insist they are ready. In truth, they are not fully primed for what lies ahead, but few te a ms ever are. Even now, after three-and-a-half years of building up to this grand occasion in familiar territory, there are questions and doubts.
Lancaster and his coaches are trying to bed down a new midfield combination when they would have preferred stability, and r ecent wobbles in the set-piece remain cause f or concern — at l east until a compelling riposte tonight, in front of the watching world.
England are less experienced in certain positions than many of their leading rivals. The combined tally of caps in the back-line is especially s parse, hence Rob Andrew’s understandable assertion that the upward curve of the team’s graph should continue l ong after this life-defining event.
But t he f ormer Test f l y- half nonetheless claimed that short-term glory is a realistic prospect and that is a view shared by all the participants — coaches, players, staff and their RFU employers. Yet, Lancaster and his men are carrying a colossal burden. Their efforts for better or worse will define the entire sport in this country, potentially for generations to come. This is a watershed point in time.
This World Cup was awarded to England in large part as a means of generating vast financial profit for the global game and that target will be achieved with room to spare.
Organisers will be able to pay off the £80million guarantee that was a condition of staging the event and have plenty of money left in the kitty.
The scale of the commercial operation is simply staggering to behold. Despite the exorbitant ticket prices, stands will be full and the tournament is destined to be the best yet.
Well, that is the theory. Nothing would stick a pin in the party balloons quicker than the hosts falling on their faces. Lancaster’s side are playing for more than their own fulfilment and national honour. Amid all the talk of history, they are playing for the future. If they soar, rugby’s appeal will broaden across the land. If they fail, the event will lose lustre and the game will not make a breakthrough outside its current English heartlands.
What England face in the coming weeks is the toughest challenge ever laid before a home country at the World Cup. Due to a premature pool draw and a quirk of the world rankings, the ‘ Pool of Death’ with Wales, Australia and t onight’s threatening opponents, Fiji, was created.
Should Lancaster’s men finish second, the route to their ultimate prize could pitch them against South Africa, New Zealand and Ireland — or Wales and Australia again. In short, they could encounter six other countries among the world’s top nine.
The only home banker is against Uruguay in Manchester, but even that fixture carries significance, as there is a fair chance that Pool A will come down to points difference. Thus, England cannot afford slip-ups and must be utterly ruthless. Tonight, if they have a foot on Fijian throats, they cannot ease off and step back.
There has already been so much debate about the best approach in this high-stakes opener, as England must tackle a tactical quandary.
They have been expanding their attacking repertoire around the creative hub of George Ford at No 10 and his Bath team-mate, Jonathan Joseph, at outside centre. Their conjuring skills have paved the way for England’s wings to hone a timely streak of predatory finishing. These days, the English weapon is the scalpel instead of the sledgehammer.