Stuart LancasterStuart Lancaster

Not a single day goes by without Stuart Lancaster thinking about the host nation’s embarrassing first-round elimination from last year’s Rugby World Cup, the former England coach said yesterday.

England, who went into the World Cup with huge expectations of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup for the first time since 2003, failed to reach the knockout phase after defeats at Twickenham by Wales and Australia.

“You think about it every minute of most days, or every day really,” Lancaster told BBC Radio.

“A lot of things have happened since then but it’s still fresh in my mind. I was accountable more than anyone, I was the head coach and it was my responsibility to lead the team.”

Lancaster resigned his post with England in November and is now looking to get back into the sport, possibly with a southern hemisphere team.

“I don’t feel so burnt by the whole experience that I don’t want to coach again,” said the 46-year-old.

“You need a new project to get your teeth into otherwise you are always dwelling on the old one.

“The lure of coaching in Super Rugby is a big one for me. The southern hemisphere would be a tremendous challenge and a great opportunity.

“Hopefully something will come around the corner soon but there aren’t many jobs in Super Rugby that are going to come up and there aren’t many jobs in the (English) Premiership that are going to come up.”

Lancaster said he learned a valuable lesson from England’s first-round elimination last year.

“The one thing the World Cup has taught me is that while my title was head coach, I probably took on so much that I wasn’t doing as much as I really would want to,” he added.

“In my next role I’d want someone to share the responsibility with me so I could concentrate on the coaching.”

Lancaster said he was delighted England won the Six Nations grand slam under new coach Eddie Jones last month.

“I will always support the England team... that will never change,” he declared.

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