In regard the Burgess - Lancaster relationship, I felt Lancaster did Burgess a disservice in a lot of ways, and that could have rebounded on him in part.

Clearly putting him in was a risk, but when he did put him in, and there was criticism after the Wales game, he needed to set up and defend him, or at least defend his decision.
He seemed to just go quiet and let Burgess take the heat.
Not leadership credentials and I'm sure in some ways led to RU losing Burgess

Did Mike Ford not have the guts to see out his contract at South Queensland crushers ?

Mike Ford's lad left Leicester for Bath so he could be closer to his family. The quitter.

no, his knee hurt because of the hard grounds, he was straight on a plane as soon as greg mackey retired at warrington.

It was worse than going quiet.

After the Wales game he stated that he saw Burgess as an impact player off the bench rather than a starter. This was just after starting him in the previous game.
After the Australia game he said it was ridiculous to play a player in one position at club level and another at international. this was after picking him at centre.
He stated Burgess needed game time and then dropped him for the dead rubber

Lancaster just leant the way of the press in every post match interview.

Samuel Burgess has just appeared on BBC World News. He was given a few minutes to explain himself, after the BBC presenter first noted the negative comments, including the fact that (the presenter claimed) the Bath team did not want to say goodbye to him.

Samuel Burgess's accent made listening to him a bit difficult. But he got across the point about rugby league having more passion and being closer to his heart. He was identified as a member of South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Samuel was interviewed at a press conference held at Sydney's world famous Kingsford Smith International Airport.

This news item must have been seen by millions of people worldwide, in rugby league markets as diverse as the USA, Canada, France, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Fiji and Lebanon. We can only imagine the consequences of this coup for rugby league.

Yes Capdouze, I'm sure the interview was seen by millions world wide and will see a surge in interest for the game.

Meanwhile, on planet Earth.....

Just on Lancaster, seems to me there was a similar thing with that controversy over England kicking to the corner instead of attempting a penalty. Lancaster was asked who made the decision, and he said the captain did, but just left it hanging in the air. I'm no fan of Robshaw, but Lancaster hung him out to dry too; he should have backed his skipper to the hilt (in public, at least), and he signally failed to do that.

Who wrote Mike Ford's Wiki entry? Described as a rugby league "legend". I must have been asleep when he played the game!!

Does it mention he quit South Queensland Crushers after 1 season / 15 games too??

Funnily enough...

Prat of a reporter on itv news just now said Sam had slinked back to Australian rugby league, what a total a**hole, maybe if all of England's rugby union faults weren' t landed on his door then he may have been still playing for the kick and clap brigade,

Thank god he's back in league and away from the elitist e he's been playing

That guy next to Sam obviously had the stomach for Union...

burgess would have still left. Why stick around playing a game you dont really enjoy. He was offered a golden ticket of playing in a union world cup and he took it, never really enjoyed union, missed rugby league and realised that staying away for 3 years would be a crazy decision.