Clubs are killing the players. Careers are getting shorter. |
I don't believe money would solve everything. |
I have spoken to any number of supporters in the last 24 hours and I accept it was hard for them to come away from Stade de France feeling anything other than extreme anger and wanting heads to roll. We will do what is necessary to enhance our chances of doing well at the World Cup. |
I think it is fitting that we have a big fixture to celebrate the opening of the stand. I hope we can reach an agreement with the clubs. |
In the course of our negotiations, Premier Rugby made it quite clear they will settle for 50 percent of the Lions money. We thought it appropriate to use the rest of the money to help players whose lives were badly affected by injuries. |
It all depends on the report. |
It is now time for us to move on from this dispute and seek resolution of the other issues between us. |
It's very unlikely we will end up in court. We need to demonstrate that we can work together and achieve something. |
Premier Rugby has said to us on a number of occasions that it would settle for half the amount owing for the Lions. We thought it appropriate to use the rest of the money to help players whose lives were badly affected by injuries. |
The performance in Paris was unacceptable. We will do what is necessary to enhance our chances of doing well in the World Cup. If that means making changes, so be it, but we are not going into panic mode. |
There are people within the RFU who are well aware of the implications. It is tremendous theatre but, as certain owners have said to me, hangings are exciting as long as you're not the person getting hanged. It's something we've got to sit down and talk about. Anything is on the table. |
There is merit in that argument. I see no logic, though, in committing coaching suicide as per the Welsh. |
Those aspersions are very unfair - grossly unfair. Andy is an honest man, a sincere man, and he speaks from the heart. He is immensely loyal, and is deeply upset by what has happened. What came across most clearly as we went through this long review process is the great confidence expressed in him by the England players. That was very important in terms of our deliberations. |
What came across from the survey of their members conducted by the Professional Rugby Players' Association, as well as the squad and the captain, was that Andy had the support and confidence of the players. Andy is an honest, sincere guy who speaks from the heart. He was upset at what happened in the Six Nations. |