Irish structure is the way forward, says English rugby chief

ENGLAND RFU chief executive Francis Baron has admitted that the IRFU’s player and provincial structures is a template for success.

Baron believes English rugby needs a new structure to end conflict between the clubs and the national side.

“We’ve got to look at everything,” Baron said. “In the first six years of professionalism England led the way, we had very successful club performances and a successful England side.

“What’s happened over the last two to three years is that countries have put in place better systems than ours, they have leapfrogged us; Ireland in particular. They have a very, very effective system, both with their Heineken Cup sides and the international side.

“We’ve had a group looking at this for the past five months, we believe we need to look, us and the clubs, at a whole range of options about the playing structure of the game.

“Some of them are fairly radical options. We have to look at whether we play too many games, whether promotion and relegation is still relevant at the top of the game.

“You can’t just look at release dates in isolation, you’ve got to have a structure where the club game and the international game work together and not against each other.

“Our structure tends to engender conflict between the club and the country. Ireland have a structure which works harmoniously.

“Rob (Andrew) is trying to come up with ideas where we change our structure so we have a productive relationship with our clubs and eliminate areas of conflict that sadly have been all too prevalent over the last few years.”

Former Wales coach Mike Ruddock believes access to the players is crucial.

“It’s very difficult to serve two masters,” Ruddock said. “Who is really going to get control of the players?

“What are you going to be judged on? Are you going to be judged on how good your national league is or whether you are successful in the Six Nations and the World Cup?

“I think it’s the latter and if you are looking to do that, ultimately you need to have a model that the coach can use his influence on to make sure he has the best players in the best nick for the most important periods.”

Meanwhile, former Australia coach Eddie Jones believes he has what it takes to drag England out of their torpor and guide them to the semi-finals of the World Cup.

Jones is one of the names in the frame to succeed Andy Robinson, who resigned last Wednesday after a dismal run by the world champions.

Jones, 46 said: “Having coached at international level I would like to do so again and a job coaching England is one of the biggest in the world.

“If the RFU (Rugby Football Union) asked me to look at a contract through to the end of the World Cup I would give it serious consideration.”

He suggests giving former rugby league star Andy Farrell a central role as pivotal to England’s recovery.

“I would put Andy Farrell straight in there at No 12 — he’s got that natural instinct, and will only get better. I saw him playing Northampton and although he’s still raw he runs good lines, and has and physical presence.

“With a big No 12 who gets over the gain-line combined with England’s forward power, you won’t go too far wrong.”

Jones insists the side’s demise has nothing to do with lack of playing talent, singling out 20-year-old Gloucester fly-half Ryan Lamb as a case in point.

“I’m surprised he didn’t get a run this autumn,” he said.