“Since I finished with the Springboks (in 2007) I have always made it clear I have a burning desire to win another World Cup”, White said.
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“When Rob Andrew got his role I was on the short list, when Martin Johnson got picked I was on the short list, when Lancaster got picked I was on the short list”.
Ritchie pledged “no inhibitions” in recruiting Lancaster’s replacement, which effectively means the RFU is ready to break the bank and hand their chosen man one of the world’s most lucrative contracts. “I wish a lot of people would say what they feel”.
And he is under contract with the Welsh Rugby Union until 2019, incorporating that year’s World Cup in Japan.
‘I don’t see why guys who are flourishing in the Premiership can’t go on and flourish in the worldwide environment’.
“I’m not interested in the England job”, he said today.
The World Cup review panel chaired by Ritchie submitted its findings to the RFU on Tuesday night, before Lancaster agreed to leave his post. “I’m committed to the Stormers”.
In eight years in charge of Wales, the former Waikato coach has won two Six Nations Grand Slams and reached the World Cup semifinals in 2011, while he led the British and Irish Lions to series glory in Australia two years ago.
“I am being clear with everyone that I’m not coaching full-time in 2016”, Smith, 58, told the BBC.
Others in the frame for the England job include Michael Cheika and Nick Mallett.
England are prepared to look abroad for a coach to succeed Stuart Lancaster but will such a candidate accept the current restrictions on selecting overseas-based players?
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Meanwhile Harlequins coach Conor O’Shea urged England to get all their World Cup frustrations out into the open after their group-stage departure saw them suffer the earliest exit from the tournament of any host nation. It remains with an “exceptional circumstances” clause, covering areas such as injuries, suspensions and sudden retirements. I’ve been in this position before, and I’ve said openly I don’t want to be in the middle of shortlists. “I do not think that was an impediment to the end result of what happened at the World Cup”.
