Developing young players

My tactic after 2007 is to let youngsters gain lots of experience in the initial two years, and then go back to pure form selection in the last two years. I would not just throw youngsters in carelessly, but I would pick them if they are good enough, if not our best; the right blend of youth and experience. It may be mean one of our best players loses out initially, but they will be experienced enough to come back. The idea is that you go into those final 18-24 months with a fixed squad, probably overlooking new talent unless they are breath takingly good. A good example of bad practice is the lack of caps Forrester has, especially when compared to Worsley. We all know Forrester is a great player, but is he great in an international? He is outstanding at the moment yet somehow we still have question marks about him that can only be answered in a test match. It does mean sitting down after the world cup and identifying those youngsters you think could make it, and more importantly are ready to be tested now, and even more importantly the experienced players you can't do without (Martin Johnson springs to mind). Then a plan must be developed, not like Tait; picked and dropped. We need to allow youngsters to find form at international level and be allowed to make mistakes along the way.

So this is how I would manage the 10 shirt; I would look to keep either and Hodgson and Wilkinson, and let the other go back to their club (injury to one or other would probably keep both involved), I would try and get Lamb and Flood lots of caps from the bench intially and as starters sooner rather than later. I would start them ahead of the "old pro" even if they are not better, but still good enough. I would do this until 2009 and then for the last 18-24 months would start picking soley on form again, so that Hodgson and Wilkinson would start and bench if they are the two best, even if I hadn't played them for nearly two years. My aim would be to be sure Lamb and Flood have 20-30 caps each by 2011, and as many of those from starting tough games as possible. If Cipriani comes on I would add him to the mix late in 2008.