Rob Andrew: Under fire
Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio has criticised the Rugby Football Union's Director of Elite Rugby Rob Andrew for failing to create a set-up "conducive to producing a world-class team".
England concluded their 2010 Six Nations campaign with a 12-10 defeat to France in Paris on Saturday. It was probably the team's most complete performance of the tournament but the result left them third in the final championship table.
The team have been criticised for some lacklustre displays over the five games, with manager Martin Johnson taking a lot of the flak.
However, Dallaglio believes the problem starts higher up the chain of command.
Writing in his Sunday Times column, Dallaglio said: "As manager, Johnson must accept responsibility, but the ultimate responsibility rests not with him but with the RFU's director of elite rugby, Rob Andrew. He is the guy who ensured that Johnson began his management journey from the wrong starting point.
"England no longer aim to be the best in the world, the players do not work in an environment conducive to producing a world-class team and, in this respect, we are short-changing the current generation. You only know how good a player is when he is allowed to work in the right set-up."
Dallaglio claimed Andrew had made a mistake in failing to bring highly-regarded kicking coach Dave Alred back into the RFU fold.
"When last did an England team have a good kicking game? Andrew worked with Alred and knows how good he is, so why didn't he make Alred his first appointment?" Dallaglio added.
"This isn't just personnel; it is also about England's lack of an overall philosophy. (Former England coach Sir Clive) Woodward talked endlessly about world-class standards producing world-class players; he got us to focus on being the number one team in rugby, not just in European rugby."
Comments
looseheadcannon says...
Has anyone seen Jake White? He wanted the job,but apparently Andrew felt it better to go with a man with ZERO coaching experience over a world cup winner who routinely embarrased them.
Posted 15:22 22nd March 2010
KiwiRooster says...
Clive Woodward brought the ability to turn rugbymen into a bunch of Linford Christies and Dwayne Chambers. The fact those two were banned for taking performance-enhancing substance is of course completely irrelevant :-/
Posted 00:07 22nd March 2010
murfs2003 says...
I meant the end of 2011. Where does the time go?
Posted 16:16 21st March 2010
murfs2003 says...
Judge me on the world cup was what Clive Woodward always use to say to the media when he was criticised. the media ended up judging him on his second world cup result. What Woodward's team had was 6 years of continuity and development leading to a world champions when they were probably past their peak. People like Dallaglio seem determined to prevent that scenario developing again. Andrew had to appoint Johnson as he was the only candidate, due to stature as a player and captain, that can stand up to English media and maintain the respect of his players. In between Woodward and Brian Ashton, who suffered at the hands of Dallaglio, was Andy Robinson. Robinson looked like a lost soul at times when in charge of England, however after moving north he looks like one of the best international managers in the world with victories over Australia, an away win over Ireland and an unlucky loss away to Wales. I thought England were superb last night given the conditions, and only inexperience/nerves prevented them going level in the second half with what would have been a brilliantly worked try down the left wing. Get off the managements back and judge them at the end of 2010!
Posted 11:23 21st March 2010