Stuart Lancaster: Building a sound launchpad for the 2015 World Cup
Sky Bet
-
Rugby Union Betting
Stuart Lancaster has stressed the need to maintain their intensity after England's sensational victory over New Zealand.
The 38-21 triumph over the world champions came after England's disappointing defeats to South Africa and Australian in recent matches.
But while basking in the glory of victory Lancaster said the squad must use it as a launchpad for the Six Nations and beyond to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
"It's the highest point, isn't it? We've played the world champions, who were unbeaten in 20 matches, and we've put in a performance that has beaten them fair and square," Lancaster said.
"To put that type of performance under that sort of pressure after the scrutiny of the last two weeks, is fantastic really.
"It was less than 11 months ago we changed the direction of travel for England rugby, to build a team for the future but also wanting to win in the here and now.
"Sometimes it takes a win to show that and the most pleasing thing is it has given a clear view of the direction we are going.
"We have got to make sure we back up now. As a coaching team we're far too pragmatic (to allow anyone to think we are the finished article) - and I'm far too Cumbrian to allow that to happen.
"I'm already thinking how we're going to plan for the pre-Six Nations camp in Leeds and how we're going to maintain this standard.
"We've got to make sure we hit that level in Six Nations."
Belief
Lancaster had time to reflect on the progress his young squad has made despite their two recent setbacks.
"Rugby's fairly simple. If you get a good culture, a good environment, good players, good coaches and if you work hard enough you'll get results," he added.
"I believe in the players we've got. We have lads like Joe Launchbury and Jonathan Joseph and Owen Farrell and Freddie Burns who are 21, 22 and 23 years old.
"They should be playing for England for years and we should be sat here in 10 years' time and still have the same group of lads with 800 caps (instead of 206) in our starting XV.
"And we've got good players to come back into the equation for the Six Nations, like Dylan Hartley, Tom Croft and Ben Foden.
"The coaches are outstanding. The environment we've got is a strong one and it held together under pressure and we kept believing. To get that scalp is a fantastic scalp."
Source : [dot]skysports[dot]com