Scheduled for his regular media duties at Leinster's headquarters in UCD yesterday, the former England coach fronted up to the scathing criticism from his former colleague who accused him of "losing the plot" during the calamitous tournament.
Apparently, accepting no responsibility for his own role as professional rugby director at England's Rugby Football Brian Hoyer Womens Jersey Union (RFU) before and after the tournament, Andrew lays the blame for the pool exit firmly at Lancaster's door - describing Leinster's senior coach as "obsessive" and "dictatorial" in his handling of Sam Burgess in particular.
He accuses Lancaster of "taking his eye off the ball" in a withering assessment of the former head coach's performance.
Lancaster has steadily rebuilt his reputation since joining Leinster a year ago, but the tournament remains a Gerrit Cole Authentic Jersey stain on his resumé.
Yesterday, he was asked if he had a response.
"No, not really," he replied. "Everybody's entitled to an opinion, Rob has given his and that's his right I guess."You learn a lot about yourself as a national team coach and you learn a lot about other people as well. We'll leave it at that."Perhaps this is just something Lancaster will have to get used to given his squad are likely to publish books and the chapter will always be a significant one in the English rugby story.
However, it seems he was caught off guard by the source of the stinging criticism.
"I have to say I didn't see this coming, I wasn't aware that anything was being written," he said.
"But I guess it's part and parcel of being a national coach, you know, when you take the responsibility you're accountable when it doesn't go well."I think I did that from the start and I will still continue to do that."It's not for me to comment on whether it's the wrong thing to do. I was certainly http://www.officialpiratesproshop.com/Francisco_Cervelli_Jersey unaware it was coming up, but people are motivated in different ways."
Lancaster assumed full responsibility for England's harrowing exit at their home World Cup, resigning in the aftermath of the tournament.
But he has largely chosen to keep his counsel and when the specific criticism of the controversial decision to pick Burgess was put to him yesterday, he opted to rise above.
One day, he might put his own thoughts to paper but for now he is looking to apply the lessons he learnt at Leinster."I'm not going to go there, I've got my thoughts and I'll keep them to myself for the time being," he said.
"What I want to try and do is pass on what I've learnt as a coach to other coaches, to teachers, to people in leadership positions and also more importantly to people in Ireland and to Leinster."I don't think it will do anyone any good by going back all over that now."I think coaching England, I coached over 50 international games which I think puts me second most or around there - Sir Clive Woodward has obviously got the
most experience"So, it does give you a lot of experience.
