Wood Backs Stuart Lancaster

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Tom Wood says Stuart Lancaster and his coaches should "come out fighting" as the Rugby Football Union begins its review into England's display at the World Cup on Monday.

The hosts failed to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time.

But Wood, 28, backed Lancaster, saying: "I think I can speak for most of the lads - I want Stuart and the coaches to come out fighting.

"They've done themselves proud in terms of their preparation and work-rate."

The performance of Lancaster and lieutenants Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt will all be under review as the RFU decides whether they have a future.

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie has said there would be no "hasty reaction" to England's exit, while Lancaster, who was appointed in 2011, has said he would find it "hard to walk away" from the job.

The 46-year-old former teacher has received the backing of former New Zealand and Wales head coach Graham Henry but there have been calls from former England internationals for Lancaster to leave his role.

Wood added: "The coaches will have learned an awful lot during this campaign and over the past three-and-a-half years.

"At the top, they are going to come under an awful lot of pressure to ring the changes, but I can't speak highly enough of Stuart as a bloke and as a coach. I back him."

The position of captain Chris Robshaw is also under close scrutiny after England seemed to lack leadership in key moments of the pivotal matches against Wales and Australia.

It was Robshaw who opted for an attacking line-out from a late penalty against Wales instead of directing Owen Farrell to go for goal. Had Farrell landed a difficult three points, England would have secured a draw - and would have been more likely to reach the quarter-finals.

Robshaw edged ahead of Wood for the captaincy at the start of Lancaster's reign, but the Northampton flanker said: "He's a strong character is Chris and he's been here before. He knows he's got the backing of the group."

Asked if he would like to be captain England if Robshaw was demoted, Wood replied: "I'd try to do what's right for the team.

"If I was asked to do it for the benefit of the team, then I'd consider it very carefully and probably front up."

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Schmidt Ineligible for Lions Role

Joe Schmidt will not be in charge of the British and Irish Lions for their trip to his native New Zealand next year.

Speaking at the official launch of the RBS Six Nations in London, the Kiwi revealed that his contract with the IRFU, which expires in 2017, does not allow him to take up the role.

"The Lions doesn’t enter my mind. We are a week to week team and that’s a long time away. It’s not something I think about," he said.

"We’re about being the best we can be. That’s our full focus for players and coaches. The Lions is actually a moot point. It’s not something I can do unless the terms of my contract change.

"There are some outside influences on that which would dictate things. I don’t plan on beyond my current contract. Sometimes as a coach you don’t get beyond your current contract."

Schmidt was viewed as the main rival to Warren Gatland for the position.

Gatland, the Wales coach who oversaw the Lions' 2-1 Test series victory against Australia in 2013, is almost certain to head up the shortlist for the coach's job.

The Lions board are to draw up a shortlist at the end of the home unions' summer tours this year, with an appointment expected by the end of August or early September.

The Lions board hope that the head coach will take up his appointment with immediate effect, although they are open to some flexibility that could involve the coach retaining some involvement with their national side during the autumn Test series, as Gatland did in 2012.

Meanwhile, Schmidt revealed that Jonathan Sexton will be fit and available for Ireland's Six Nations opener against Wales on February 7 despite suffering a head injury in the 51-10 defeat to Wasps last weekend.

"Johnny trained really well yesterday. He has passed all the protocols. It was this time last year where he had the problem and took a break," he added.

"Since then he’s had no head injuries so as far as we and he are concerned he’s ready to go. I’m always concerned. We treat head injuries with the respect they deserve.

"They identified Johnny needed a rest and that’s to our advantage really. All we can do is go on the best medical decision we have. When they give him the all clear we have trust in him.

"They’re the experts and if people question that it’s a disappointment. No one is going to have the same opinion but you get the best qualified people to make the assessment. He trained really well yesterday. There was no contact apart from with the wind which pretty much blew everyone over."

On the challenge that Wales will present on February 7, Schmidt said: "I’m only a spectator in the Wales environment but I thought they did well in the World Cup. Who would have thought that against England Wales would pick themselves up off the floor to win.

"They’re the squad with the biggest continuity and experience. They have over 1100 caps and they’ve very tough. They were the biggest team at the World Cup so they have that physical dominance they can impact on teams.

"I don’t think people could not have been impressed by Dan Biggar at the World Cup. Gareth Davies was brilliant too and that doesn’t count the other experienced players. I don’t count experience. I’m not giving an opinion on who is favourite or not. I’m just talking about Wales and facts about them. They’re an incredibly tough team.

"I was talking to Sam Warburton this morning and this is his fifth time here. We don’t talk about what our chances are or what Wales’ chances are."

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Gatland Leads Lions Race

Wales coach Warren Gatland is the "leading contender" to be British and Irish Lions coach for next year's tour of New Zealand.

Gatland coached the Lions to victory over Australia in 2013.

Joe Schmidt led Ireland to Six Nations titles in 2014 and 2015 and is a likely challenger to fellow Kiwi Gatland.

Lions chief executive John Feehan said: "It would be absolutely ludicrous of me to say that Warren would not be the leading contender - he clearly is."

Talking to Sky, Feehan added: "If he is involved it will be a third tour for him, he has a record that is pretty much second to none in the northern hemisphere and so he has to be the leading contender."

Since Gatland took over as Wales coach, they have won three Six Nations titles and two Grand Slams.

Gatland took a sabbatical from his Wales role in 2012-13, leaving assistant Rob Howley to oversee their Six Nations title win that season.

The Wales coaching duo had also been part of Ian McGeechan's assistants when the Lions lost 2-1 to South Africa in 2009.

Joe Schmidt's Ireland host Gatland's Wales in their 2016 Six Nations opener on Sunday, 7 February

Beating the Wallabies was the Lions' first series win since the 1997 tour to South Africa, also coached by McGeechan.

Feehan says the home nations coaches "are a pretty good starting point" for 2017 Lions coaching contenders.

However, as a recent appointment to the England role, ex-Australia and Japan coach Eddie Jones would seem an unlikely choice.

New Zealander Vern Cotter took over as Scotland head coach in 2013 and is also seen as an outside bet to guide the Lions against former Wales coach Steve Hansen's World Cup holders.

"The four home-based coaches are a pretty good starting point," added Feehan.

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"It is unlikely that we will move outside of that, but we will keep an open mind.

"We will consider any international coach who wants to be involved."

The 2017 tour manager John Spencer says appointment will be made after the four home unions' 2016 summer tours.

Spencer toured New Zealand with the 1971 Lions, the first to win a series, and the former England and Lions centre indicated the successful candidate would again be expected to take time out from his national role to lead the Lions.

"We would expect them to give 100% of their time to the Lions," said Spencer.

"That would be the best preparation and we are looking for best principles.

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Andy Farrell Joins Ireland Defence

Andy Farrell has been named as Ireland’s new defence coach less than a month after he was sacked as England’s assistant coach.

A statement from the Irish Rugby Football Union confirmed that the 40-year-old will take up his post after the Six Nations. The IRFU said Farrell’s contract would commence ahead of the June tour to South Africa and run until the completion of World Cup 2019 in Japan.

“The Irish RugbyFootball Union today announced the appointment of Andy Farrell as Ireland defence coach. Andy will take up the role with the national team following the 2016 RBS 6 Nations Championships,” read the statement.

“It’s great to have Andy coming into our coaching team,” said head coach Joe Schmidt. The quality of his delivery and breadth of his experience as well as the positive impact he had when coaching a number of our senior players during the 2013 Lions tour will add real value for us.”

Farrell added: “To have this opportunity to work with a very talented management and playing group really excites me. With a wealth of top class experienced senior players and a fantastic crop of youngsters pushing hard the future is very positive for Irish rugby and I can’t wait to get started.”

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