Stuart Lancaster has declared his admiration for the way England have become savvy hunters in their pursuit of this year’s Guinness Six Nations title.
Eddie Jones’ predecessor as head coach guided the national team to four consecutive runners-up finishes in the annual championship, from 2012-2015.
Now respected at Leinster, he has viewed the current tournament with divided loyalties, due to his connections on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Stuart Lancaster has been impressed with how England have performed in the Six Nations
But after England’s victories over 2018 champions Ireland and a hapless France, Lancaster has recognised how they have responded to the shock of their fifth-place finish last year.
Asked if that was merely a blip, he said: ‘Yeah, I think so. It’s amazing, the motivation of being the hunted or the hunter; how it affects teams. Certainly, people were after England last year in the same way that people are after Ireland this year.
‘England have played that role well so far. I think England played well in the Ireland game, they played well against France and I think the Wales game will be a pivotal one in the Six Nations.
‘Wales have just sat there quietly in the background winning their games. It’s a very tricky place to go and win.’
Lancaster was coach when England lost 30-3 to Wales in Cardiff in 2015 to miss a Grand Slam
Lancaster knows all too well how tough it can be to go to Cardiff with grand ambitions.
In 2013, he took his England squad there with a Slam in their sights but they endured a record 30-3 defeat. However, that was at an early stage of their evolution.
Many of the same players are still involved and the man who introduced them to Test rugby believes they are reaching their prime at just the right time, given what lies ahead in the autumn this year.
Lancaster has admired the growth and development of key players within the national squad
‘You can see the growth of the team,’ said Lancaster. ‘I think we said from the start that the reality is this England team should peak in 2019.
'It was always a race against time for 2015, but by 2019 you could see the age profile, the quality of the players and the experience they would have, it should be their time.
‘I see
