Rugby World Cup 2015: Stuart Lancaster knows England need to improve their finishing power

Must try harder: Jonny May gave England a great start against Ireland but the team’s performance fell away in the second half
(Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Chris Jones7 September 2015

England head coach Stuart Lancaster admits his players are still struggling to produce the 80-minute performance that will convince doubters they can win the World Cup.

A 21-13 victory over Six Nations champions Ireland ensures England head into the opening game against Fiji on Friday week at Twickenham with real momentum, while the Irish have to deal with successive defeats.

However, England fell away again after an early exhibition of the kind of pressure their hi-tempo game can deliver and found themselves just two points ahead in the 53rd minute, having given up a 10-point lead.

England can point to two tries ruled out by the television match official but both decisions were right and there remains concern over the team’s ability to produce their best for 80 minutes.

(Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Lancaster is hoping home advantage will help the team ride out the problem periods and said: “We are a very difficult team to beat at Twickenham because we have got a very good win ratio and the confidence is built from consistently playing well. But also the work that we’ve done in camp and the belief that we’ve generated over the last three years [will help].

“It’s not just the team spirit, which obviously every team’s got, but day in, day out I can see us defending well against each other, attacking well.

“It’s putting all those bits and pieces together for the full 80 for seven games... that’s the challenge.”

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Lancaster is understandably upbeat heading into the tournament, having avoided a second successive loss and added: “It’s a good position to be in going into the Fiji game. But [beating Ireland] counts for nothing now. We’ve got to put all our focus and energy into delivering a better performance against Fiji.

“You can win a World Cup by losing one or perhaps even two games — France got to the final in 2011 after losing two pool games — so it is achievable, but I think everyone would want consistency. To win it you’ve got to win seven big games on the bounce and, for us in particular, because of the pool we’re in, other than Uruguay, it’s quarter-finals stage from game one.”

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