Official RBS 6 Nations Rugby : Lancaster: We must be more clinical

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England head coach Stuart Lancaster was content with his side's display against Fiji.

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Lancaster: We must be more clinical

10 November 2012, 8:33 pm

By Paul Smith

Stuart Lancaster will be working on making England more clinical in the build-up to the tougher test posed by Australia next week, despite a seven-try romp over Fiji.

The Red Rose, who finished second in this year’s RBS 6 Nations, began their autumn campaign in convincing fashion, routing a poor Fijian outfit 54-12 at Twickenham.

Lancaster was pleased with his side’s performance but knows that, with sterner tests to come in the next three weeks starting against the Australians, improvements must be made.

“We’ll take the positives, there was lots of things we did well but equally some rusty areas as well that we’ll need to fix up for next week without a doubt,” said England’s head coach.

“We talked a lot about shape and re-alignment off the ball, getting into good shape to be able to attack and while we didn’t execute on all occasions towards the latter part of the game I thought we did that well.

“I think next week and the week after, and the week after that, we are going to have to be far more clinical but for a first hit out against a Fiji side that was pretty committed we will take it.”

Charlie Sharples and Manu Tuilagi both scored twice each, with Ugo Monye and Tom Johnson also among the tries.

Toby Flood kicked three successful penalties and four conversions, with replacement Owen Farrell also adding an extra two points.

There were other chances too, and Lancaster admits performance levels will need to increase by the time Australia arrive at Twickenham.

“We are going to have to go through several (gears),” he said of the challenge of facing Australia.

“We have got plenty of footage of them from the Rugby Championship but they are going to be a committed side and a very good side that we play against – they are not ranked above us in the world for no reason so it is going to be tough.”

Harlequins prop Joe Marler was replaced by debutant Maku Vunipola early in the second half but England are not believed to have suffered any further injury setbacks.

“Joe Marler tightened up and it was a very quick decision to get him off the field but also to get Mako on the field,” said Lancaster.

“If Alex Corbisiero comes through this weekend we have got three good loose heads there fighting for two slots.

“I have plenty of selection problems now.”