Cinderford Director of Rugby Andy Deacon's weekly column

WHAT do rugby players do when they are at a last-minute loose end?

It opens up options that’s for sure, but where Cinderford are concerned the players will generally take themselves off and use the time to train.

It just gives them opportunities to mix that training up and freshen things up a bit.

I’ve never seen anything as bizarre as the France-Ireland Six Nations postponement.

I thought it was crazy enough when Tynedale came all the way from the North East to Dockham Road a last season, only for the game to be called off at late notice.

But this was a new level of odd.

Everyone has highlighted the plight of the fans, and quite rightly, because this should never have happeened.

People spent a lot of money, time and effort to get to that game, and for nothing in the end.

It is crazy that a ground like Stade de France does not have undersoil heating.

But above all of that must come the safety of the players.

In some circles that seems to have been forgotten.

However frustrating and ridiculous the situation for the fans, I am sure no one would want to see a player injured because of a hard pitch.

If there was any doubt whatsoever then the game should not have gone ahead.

Our match cancellation on Saturday thankfully came at midday on the Friday, so everyone had chance to rearrange their weekend.

I went to watch Gloucester play Northampton and thoroughly enjoyed the Kingsholm privilege.

I know Bryan Redpath wanted more balance from Jonny May’s performance at full-back, but I love how these young guys approach the game.

May and Charlie Sharples, they just run into areas the opposition fear, do not want them to, and then cannot handle.

It’s pretty simple and at times May was cutting basically sideways, leaving himself open to a big tackle from the Saints defence.

Gloucester’s youngsters play with excitement and relish, with smiles on their faces – and at times it is almost as though there’s no pressure at all on them, and they are just haring around back in a school team.

Yes there has to be a pragmatic option at times, but they must never lose that natural instinct.

The most pleasing aspect is that Bryan Redpath will make sure that it flourishes.

ENGLAND should give Stuart Lancaster the coaching job permanently – even though I doubt they will.

Granted Lancaster’s side have not been convincing in the Six Nations so far, but it’s two games and two wins, from two mix-and-match performances.

There’s talent and skill in the side he has selected, but it will take time to shine through at international level.

And that’s because England are basically starting from scratch.

They have had nearly ten years since 2003 to build something, and they have made no progress.

That’s a real shame.

But now Lancaster has come in and picked England up off the turf when they were at their lowest ebb in the professional era, post World Cup.

He has fostered a real club spirit in an international set-up, he has been open, honest and forthright with the media – and he has been true to himself.

He has been straightforward with the players and he has trusted his group.

Lancaster has already done a huge amount for English rugby generally, and for the squad he has selected.

There’s a real bond that forms in teams that grit out wins without performing to their best.

That emerges over time, and one thing is for sure – these players will be very loyal to Lancaster.

Given the chance I think he could mould them into something special.

I just hope he has the opportunity.

PETE Buxton is a phenomenal source of stories, so I can’t envisage too many problems rolling out a few at his Celebration Year Evening with Bucko Q&A event next Wednesday, 7pm, at Kingsholm.

After 250 games for the club there’s a lot of material to work with and joined by the likes of Mike Tindall, Andy Hazell, Bryan and Dean Ryan it promises to be great rugby evening.

We were pre-season training in France one year, one of our fitness trainers had us playing hand-eye co-ordination and peripheral vision games.

We had little balls with colours, numbers or shapes on them, and when they were thrown at us we had to catch them and shout out the number or symbol or whatever it was.

First the speed was increased, and then we had to put eye patches on, alternating eyes, to make it even more challenging.

That all went fine and well, and then we moved on to some lineouts and other drills.

We ran a lineout and at one point I turned to Bucko and he still had his eye patch on!

Pretty much standard for him, but he’s a hell of a bloke and a hell of a player too.

He’s a local rugby hero to be honest, a champion for the grassroots game who plays at the highest level.

Rugby needs men like him, to represent the lower levels and what the game is all about for local clubs and local players.

For every guy who trains twice a week after work and turns out for his local club at a weekend without anyone ever noticing, that’s who Pete Buxton represents when he pulls on cherry and white.

TICKETS for the Evening with Bucko Question and Answer Session to mark his 250 Gloucester games are still available.

Part of Buxton’s Celebration Year to mark his Gloucester decade, the evening will be held in Kingsholm’s 1873 suite on Wednesday, February 22 (7pm start).

For more information contact Pete Glanville on 07774 997399, Cathryn Hage on 07768 410097, or email info@bucko6.co.uk.