England's Rugby Football Union often makes bad decisions, but for once it has done the right thing
England's Rugby Football Union often makes bad decisions, but in awarding the job of England head coach to Stuart Lancaster, the RFU has for once done the right thing. Mr Lancaster is not necessarily a better coach than various more glitzy contenders, and his spell in charge may end in tears, but he deserved the job for two reasons with wider significance. First, because he had proved himself over a high-visibility spell as interim boss and, second, because he had the support of the players, whom he respected. This latter is not an invariable advantage, especially if ageing players are resistant to necessary change, but Mr Lancaster showed boldness at the start of his interim stint, and the players responded. Far too much macho tosh has been written about management's right to manage, but the human reality, in sports as elsewhere, is that continuity and confidence feed on one another, which is why Mr Lancaster has earned his chance.