Stuart Lancaster believes England side are progressing well towards 2015 World Cup despite their narrow 30-22 defeat to New Zealand on Saturday.
England looked to be heading for a comprehensive beating when early tries from wing Julian Savea and number eight Kieran Read helped put the All Blacks into a 17-3 lead during the first half.
However a try for lock Joe Launchbury and five penalties from Owen Farrell saw the hosts recover to lead 22-20 at one stage, before Savea’s second try of the match and Aaron Cruden’s penalty won it for the visitors.
The All Blacks were delighted to exact some revenge for their Twickenham defeat 12 months ago and continue their unbeaten run in 2013, while Lancaster was disappointed at the defeat but hopeful for the future.
“You have to look at some of the players we’ve got missing and some of the new combinations we had, Billy Twelvetrees and Joel Tomkins playing for the first time together in this series,” Lancaster said.
“But the over-riding feeling in the dressing room is one of disappointment but that is just how far we’ve come as a team.”
He added: “We talk about belief in building a team. when you are putting the jigsaw together of building a team we are definitely moving in the right direction.
“You’ve got pride in the shirt, a great coaching team and backroom staff and a Twickenham crowd 100 per cent behind the team. All those things help in piecing the jigsaw together to be the best you can be when the World Cup comes around.
“It’s been about winning here and now but also building the team to win in 2015 and that is our aim.”
Leave a comment
Link Dafabet