England
Englishman should coach the national side, says Northampton's Dorian West
PA Sport
November 11, 2015
Lancaster leaves England post

England have been urged to pick a home-based coach to replace Stuart Lancaster.

Northampton assistant coach Dorian West, part of the 2003 World Cup-winning squad, believes there are plenty of capable English candidates despite Michael Cheika and Joe Schmidt being linked with the job.

"We're really disappointed for Stuart," said West. "It's the end to what's been a good period for England so it's one of those things that happens in this job - you're under pressure week in, week out.

When asked if an Englishman should coach the national said, West added: "You'd like to think so. That knowledge of the players and how the clubs work, that's pretty important."

© Tom Dulat/Getty Images

"You just hope whoever it is has a good chance at getting everyone available and playing well for England."

Northampton boss Jim Mallinder is also in the frame to replace Lancaster and has received his club colleague's backing for the hot seat.

"Jim's been in the Premiership coaching for a long time and he's had a spell with England as well so he knows what the job's about.

"He's as good a bloke as I've worked with, so time will tell."

However, 2003 World Cup winner Will Greenwood expects England to appoint one of the game's "super coaches".

He told Sky Sports News HQ: "There will be a variety of names put forward. I don't think they'd go with a young English coach who's not won big trophies yet.

"I think they will go with one of the super coaches, a coach that has won big tournaments, whether it be in Super Rugby, European Cups, Tri Nations, Rugby Championships, Grand Slams and even World Cups.

"That list appears to be Warren Gatland, Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith, Joe Schmidt, these sort of characters have vast pedigree in terms of winning major trophies."

Greenwood believes Lancaster's World Cup side were not prepared for the tournament, something of which Lancaster has to take responsibility for.

"I look back on it and I see the style in which Australia and New Zealand play, averaging 65 caps in that final," Greenwood said. "I just think that the young team were overawed.

"It's clear the team weren't able to deal with the intensity of this World Cup and even if they had made the quarter-final, wouldn't have been able to go on and win the trophy."

© PA Sport

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