Stuart Lancaster says his fellow Englishman abroad, Henry Arundell, is throwing himself into their new life together at Racing 92, to get over the disappointment of being a fringe player at the Rugby World Cup.
But Lancaster, the former England head coach who took over at the Paris club in the summer and has guided them to the top of the French league, would support Arundell if the 21-year-old back-three prospect returns home at the end of the season.
Lancaster spent seven years at Leinster before he was head-hunted by Racing, who are spending big to improve on one French title in 33 years, in 2016, and three losing finals in the Champions Cup, which kicks off for this season with a home tie against Harlequins at the indoor La Defense Arena on Sunday.
Arundell will only be available to England as an overseas-based player to the end of this season, under an exemption due to his previous club London Irish going into administration. He was seen sporadically at the World Cup, dotting down five tries in an easy pool win over Chile, and not receiving a pass in the bronze-medal play-off with Argentina. But he began his Top 14 stint with a hat-trick against Toulon, and added another try last week.
“It’s a very tricky one isn’t it?” Lancaster said of the joint RFU and Premiership rule against overseas players. “I go back to 2011, when I get the interim [England] job, and there’s decisions to be made about players who were in France… because they want to keep their homegrown talent in England.
“It obviously is getting harder to do that on a more consistent basis, because players are wanting to grow, and wanting to take opportunities. Any international player who plays in the Six Nations, I’m never going to compromise their chances to be successful for their national team. We’ll see what happens with Henry. Whichever way he goes, I’ll support him, and try and help him develop, for sure.”
Lancaster praised Arundell, who once turned down a rugby scholarship to Yale in the United States, for living on his own in a Paris flat, and making rapid connections with Racing’s younger French players including scrum-half Nolann le Garrec and English speakers including fellow England international Christian Wade and the club’s three Fijians. The coaching staff working with Arundell include past masters Joe Rokocoko and Freddy Michalak.
“We chatted and I convinced him I could create a good opportunity for him to develop and grow as a player,” Lancaster said. “With the likes of Hugo Keenan, Jimmy O’Brien, Jordan Larmour, James Lowe, the guys I coached in Ireland and England, I would be confident in my ability to develop young players. We’ve had a chance to play him on the wing and at 15 – both options are open.
“His athleticism obviously stands out, but I’ve been impressed with his ball distribution, his kicking game, his aerial game, and defensively he’s switched on. I’m trying to create decision-making opportunities for him in training so he has to execute constantly. Then, obviously, the game itself is another step up. I think he’s old enough to be thrown in the deep end.”
South Africa’s World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi is another new face at Racing.
Lancaster said: “Gael [Fickou] and Cameron [Woki] came back from the disappointment of [France] losing in the quarter-final, Henry’s come on the back of England losing and he didn’t have a huge amount to play. So he was good to go, whereas Siya and [fellow Springbok] Trevor Nyakane, they were in South Africa somewhere on a trophy tour. I feel we’re all beginning to go in the right direction now but it’s been difficult for each and every player from the World Cup.”
Racing have six wins in nine league matches this season, and a secret plan to shut down another England star, Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith. “He’s got good footwork, he’s got very good vision, he’s got a great kicking game, and he’s quick,” Lancaster said. “Look at the try he created against Sale [last Friday], it was a split-second moment and suddenly he’s through the line and it’s an offload and it’s a try.
“He’s multiple threats – the pace, the footwork, the ability to scan and see space sets him apart. It’s a bit like when you’re trying to set up your defence against [former Racing No 10] Finn Russell, in the way he’s got the ability to take on the line. You’ve got to be aware to not give him what he wants, but it’s easier said than done.”
Lancaster believes this Sunday’s should be a treat for fans and neutrals alike. “Quins played Racing twice last year and one was at the Stoop in the pouring rain, and the second one at the Paris La Defense Arena, and it came down to the wire, and Racing ended with 13 players and just hanging on,” Lancaster added.
“Knowing all the coaches and most of the players at Harlequins, they will be absolutely relishing the chance to come and play in a stadium where there’s no wind and no rain, guaranteed. And Racing play a similar style of rugby. So pitching two attack-minded teams together, you couldn’t wish for a better fixture.
“I have been impressed with them this season. The key players like Danny [Care], Marcus Smith, Dombrandt, Esterhuizen, the back three are all playing well. The front row is strong, Joe Launchbury has added his experience and value. Across the board they have got my full respect… I have made sure the Racing players understand.”