Rowntree looks to ratchet up pressure on RFU chief Ritchie

Forwards coach Graham Rowntree is determined to make life even tougher for England’s new Rugby Football Union chief executive Ian Ritchie as he prepares the Red Rose to face Ireland at Twickenham.

Rowntree’s future with the national team — and that of interim boss,Stuart Lancaster — is up in the air while Ritchie decides who should be appointed as England’s new permanent head coach.

After Jake White last week ruled himself out of contention, the RFU would appear to have a straight choice between Lancaster and Nick Mallett to lead England into the 2015 World Cup on home soil. The clamour for Lancaster to continue would increase again if England were to sign off from the RBS 6 Nations with a home win against Ireland, having beaten France 24-22 in Paris last weekend.