The Leinster coach on the bruising aftermath of his 2015 England exit, finding fulfilment in Dublin and the pain of his father’s death
‘Pretty much everything has been given to Leinster and, indirectly, to Ireland,” Stuart Lancaster says when he considers how the knowledge he gained during seven years at the heart of English rugby has been jettisoned by his own country. The Leinster coach speaks without bitterness and, having reflected movingly on the recent death of his father and the bruising aftermath of being sacked by England after the 2015 World Cup, he sounds philosophical.
Lancaster is clearly happy coaching Leinster alongside Leo Cullen and they are the bookmakers’ favourites to retain the European Champions Cup. Leinster also supply the core of the Irish squad which, having won the grand slam last season and beaten New Zealand two months ago, face England in Dublin on 2 February in their opening Six Nations game. The mood in Dublin is calmly confident and Lancaster, a proud Englishman, looks at home in a successful Irish environment.
Written by Donald McRae
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/jan/18/stuart-lancaster-interview-ireland-england-leinster-six-nations-rugby-union under the title “Stuart Lancaster: ‘I haven’t decided if I’ll go to watch England play Ireland’”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
