All is not well in Camp England ahead of Saturday night’s clash against Australia.
As hosts, pressure was always going to be part of the deal for England, especially as the terms of Stuart Lancaster’s contract for his four plus years in charge were to prepare a squad for this tournament.
Now, after just two games, England seem to have invoked Operation Siege Mentality.
The defeat by Wales cranked up the pressure to such an extent that the fightback from Camp England is to slam any former player who dares criticise the team or the set-up, and to try and harangue the media into becoming cheerleaders for the team, rather than impartial observers – always a sign that things are getting tough.
It’s hard to say what is the most astounding thing about this – is it how quickly things seem to have unravelled for them? Is it that they seem to be surprised that they’d be criticised by former players? Or is it that they think they have some right to go through the campaign free from criticism regardless of the results, performances and selections?
Andy Farrell urged English media to get behind team today. I understand why team want that but it's fundamentally not our job to cheerlead.
— Sam Peters (@PlantedSam) September 28, 2015
It is not just the defeat to Wales, but the manner of the loss that brought the most consternation, with England losing their way to such an extent that the final decision to eschew the chance for a draw seemed the perfect nightcap to 25 minutes of haphazard thinking.
Will Carling led the criticism, blaming the ‘classroom-orientated environment’ that Lancaster has fostered, as well as the head coach’s lack of trust for his players.
But in a fairly fractious press conference on Monday, England coach Andy Farrell responded to Carling in withering fashion, and called on the country, everyone from fans to ex-players to media, to get behind the team as they get ready for the Aussies.
“It’s disappointing, especially from someone who has not been in the environment. I’ve been involved in many environments as a player and as a coach. This environment is as good an environment as I’ve seen. It allows players to express themselves and get better as players and leaders. I don’t buy into that [criticism] whatsoever.
“It makes it easier to batten down the hatches. It is what it is. It’s disappointing, we need everyone behind us this week. You guys, the whole of the nation, the crowd. We need to batten down the hatches if we can.
“Let’s go for it, we’re English aren’t we? We’re English, that’s what I’d like to see. Do we all want to do well in this competition? Do we know what’s at stake this weekend? Of course we do. Let’s get behind the team, everyone, let’s help them. Let’s get a feelgood factor throughout the country and let’s do this together.”
The commentary out of England is fascinating.. Andy Farrell pleading with the media to stop criticising them. Cant wait for this #Wallabies
— Gerard Middleton (@MiddletonGerard) September 29, 2015
I would absolutely love to see Will Carling spill Andy Farrell's pint
— Ben Machell (@ben_machell) September 29, 2015
Scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth also railed in on Carling, as Camp England circled their wagons and attempted to instil a siege mentality before Saturday’s crunch clash.
“We knew coming into this that it could be like this but if they don’ t know and he doesn’t know and hasn’t played the game for how long and hasn’t been involved in professional rugby for how long?.
“Let’s have a meaningful discussion about his knowledge, about what he knows about the game. He is there to further his own career and good luck to him.”
“Certain people who have come out and said things should know better. It seems that no one has ever made a mistake in life and no one has made a decision that hasn’t worked out for them.
“They are entitled to do that and are progressing their own careers and I have no interest in anything they have to say because they are not here. They are not living it and doing it and I ain’t bothered.”
Will England’s siege mentality pay off or will the Aussies prove too strong? Either way, cancel any other plans you may have for Saturday night – England v Australia is going to be epic.
