Lawrence Dallaglio believes the acid test for Stuart Lancaster will come during this summer's tour of South Africa.
Former skipper believes Lancaster will learn plenty this summer
Lawrence Dallaglio believes the real test for Stuart Lancaster will come during this summer's tour of South Africa.
Before his role as national head coach was made permanent, Lancaster steered England to four wins from five in this season's RBS Six Nations.
Lancaster's next challenge is a three-Test series against South Africa in June where his side will face the Springboks in Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.
Dallaglio, who led England during the reign of Sir Clive Woodward, agrees the 42-year-old former RFU academy boss is the right man to take the side forward to the 2015 World Cup on home soil, and believes he will learn plenty about the task ahead this summer.
The former England rugby captain said: "He certainly deserves the opportunity to continue in that role, there's no doubt about it.
"His record from the RBS 6 Nations shows how he has turned England's fortunes round in a very short space of time.
Good return
"Four out of five victories in the 6 Nations against much-fancied opposition is a good return. The important thing is that no-one in the England set-up, including Stuart, will get carried away with that.
"Everyone in England knows the real test and real barometer for England will be the summer.
"South Africa is very tough and one of the hardest places to play rugby. I think when they come away from there they will know what they need to do both on a player perspective in terms of the squad but also a coaching perspective."
And Dallaglio, who was speaking as an Amlin Rugby Ambassador, is confident Lancaster has what it takes to succeed as a national coach despite not having a great deal of experience on the world stage.
"Coaching at the highest level is not normally down to one person, it's down to a number of factors," Dallaglio said.
"Stuart and his team will know whether they need to add to that coaching staff at the end of the tour or if they've got enough themselves to do the job.
"They will work that out for themselves when England travel and get the results for themselves in South Africa."
