England to 'stick together' for Lancaster

England captain Chris Robshaw implicitly backed Stuart Lancaster to become the team's next full-time coach when he said he hoped the current set-up would "stick together" after the Six Nations.

Lancaster, appointed on an interim basis for this year's Championship after Martin Johnson's post-World Cup resignation, has won three out of his four games in charge heading into England's Six Nations finale against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday.

Robshaw, only capped once before Lancaster appointed him captain ahead of this tournament, could now lead England to a successful defence of their Six Nations title should they beat Ireland convincingly and Grand Slam-chasers Wales, who kick-off several hours earlier Saturday in Cardiff, lose heavily to France.

But this weekend could be the last time Robshaw and Lancaster fill their respective posts, with the Rugby Football Union still to decide whether the ex-coach of England's reserve Saxons has seen off the challenge from the likes of former South Africa and Italy supremo Nick Mallett for the full-time post.

"It's been pretty surreal in all honesty," Robshaw said on Friday. "It's been a huge honour not only to play for your country but to captain them.

"We've got a great group around us and a great squad and hopefully if we stick together we can keep taking this English team forward."

Lancaster has repeatedly stressed during this Six Nations that he has been a member of an England coaching trio featuring Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell.

But whereas Rowntree was already on board, having been a member of Johnson's backroom staff, dual-code international Farrell was merely seconded from Premiership champions Saracens to England for the duration of the Six Nations.

And that means, whatever happens to the top job, England are set to have a changed set-up come their tour of South Africa in June.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed the experience," said Farrell, who during the course of the tournament has seen his 20-year-old son Owen become England's starting fly-half.

"The first thought of being asked to do the job was that I wanted to do it to get back into the England set-up and come away with some good memories.

"But having said that, the job finishes on Sunday and I'm looking forward to going back to work with Saracens on Monday."

Asked if he would like to continue to be involved with England, the host nation at the next World Cup in 2015, Farrell replied: "I think it's obvious it's the pinnacle but it's a hypothetical question really simply because I've got a good job.

"I enjoy my job at Saracens and I'm contracted to them for the next two years," he added.

"I think as a coach you always want to be involved in an England side in a World Cup. When that time is, who knows? That could be way further down the track."

Victory over an Ireland team who've won seven of their last eight Six Nations matches against England would certainly strengthen the position of the current Red Rose coaching team, who last weekend presided over a thrilling 24-22 win against France in Paris.

"The good thing for us, as far as the team is concerned, is we've had a short turnaround this week and we've had a hell of a lot to do to get the full detail of what we need to do against a good Irish side," said Farrell.

"What goes on in the future will sort itself out."

AFP