The Harlequins No8 is playing as well as he has done in recent times. He is sharp, involved and influential. There is simply no denying the fact that he would be an asset for England at Murrayfield in a month?s time for the opening match of the 2012 Six Nations championship. Why, then, has Lancaster taken what must be considered a risk in leaving him out? The reasoning is the same as has been applied in entirely different circumstances to Easter?s team-mate, Danny Care. The Harlequins scrum-half was summarily banished for the duration of the championship the moment his arrest for drink-driving became known. No ethical quibbling, no tugs on the heartstrings for a player whom Lancaster has known since he was a teenager and no self-interested fretting over the fact that the scrum-half cupboard is not packed to overflowing. Right course of action, out he goes.
Lancaster wants a squad that is on-message in every regard. If this venture is to work, then it will stand or fall on the vibrancy, as well as clarity of thought, injected by Lancaster. Easter has always been known for his old-school ways. He does things his own way, as Dean Richards used to do. He?s not disruptive, but he is his own man. He?s also 34 in August, which doesn?t make him a long-term prospect for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Many of us would have chosen Easter, particularly given the start that England have with away games against Scotland and Italy. Both matches will be gritty, niggardly, close-run affairs ? Easter?s territory. Lancaster has been strong enough in his convictions to leave him out. So be it.
There will be a youthful, callow feel to his squad. And with it will come renewed energy and enthusiasm. There will be no anxiety in their ranks, few ghosts still haunting and taunting for the events of New Zealand. The young have no fear. Only the old realise what can go wrong.
Lancaster is too bright to deny the obvious reality that lies ahead ? results will shape the terrain around him, no matter where he bases the team. It?s on that turf his regime will be defined. PR can only reach so far.
2000 Happy returns
Saracens against Bath on Sunday was the 2,000th match in the history of Premiership rugby. There have been many fine advances in 15 years, principally the silencing of those RFU bigwigs who thought that there was no future in the club game. There are still pressing commercial concerns but the clubs, or the majority of them, are here to stay. A prediction? By the time the 3,000th game milestone is reached towards the end of this decade, there will be fewer front-ranking clubs, perhaps 10, maybe fewer, and there will be a European League.
Prepare for the Warburton roar
Wales? impressive young captain, Sam Warburton, was in London last night to accept the Rugby Writers? Award as the outstanding individual of the year. There are four Lions captains (Bill Beaumont, Finlay Calder, Martin Johnson and Brian O?Driscoll) on the list of previous winners. You?ll only get a short price in backing Warburton to join that illustrious group as Lions captain for the 2013 tour to Australia.
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