Bryan Habana: England coach Stuart Lancaster is working towards something special

London Evening Standard



England's match against Ireland tomorrow is a final chance for Stuart Lancaster’s men to make a statement before the Rugby World Cup.



Any optimism generated by the first warm-up win, against France, was destroyed in Paris seven days later, when England were battered for 70 minutes, conceded a host of needless penalties and were lucky to come away with just a five-point defeat.



England may have failed to convince then but one notable voice talking up their cause is Bryan Habana.



The winger was IRB Player of the Year when he helped South Africa win the 2007 World Cup and will be on these shores this month for another tilt at the Webb Ellis Cup.



“I definitely think they are working towards something special,” he tells me. “Under the leadership of Stuart Lancaster and Chris Robshaw, they have done some wonderful things over the last three to four years.