Fellow Australian and newly-appointed Stormers coach Eddie Jones, who was in charge of the Wallabies when England won the 2003 World Cup final, is the bookmakers’ favourite to succeed Lancaster despite initially playing down links.
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England parted ways with former head coach Stuart Lancaster in the wake of their disastrous World Cup showing on home soil.
The former Leinster and Stade Francais coach says he’s enjoying coaching Australia.
Jones coached Japan to victory over South Africa at the World Cup and was involved when the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 2007.
Cheika’s success in transforming Australia from the rabble he inherited 13 months ago into World Cup finalists has seen his stock soar, but the 48-year-old is content with leading the Wallabies.
“The guy that has been playing in [Pocock’s] place has been outstanding, Butler, he’s just been aggressive, hardworking… he’s going fantastic at the Brumbies”, Cheika said before the Brumbies’ showdown against the NSW Waratahs earlier this year.
But given White was in London because Montpellier were playing Harlequins in the European Challenge Cup at the Stoop, which is close to the RFU’s Twickenham headquarters, it would have been more surprising had someone from the England hierarchy not taken the chance to contact him.
He responded emphatically to reports that he has been sounded out by the RFU for the England job vacated by Stuart Lancaster.
New Zealand’s Steve Hansen, Joe Schmidt of Ireland and Wales boss Warren Gatland have stated they are not interested.
“In return we have to go out and play really good rugby to make sure that the next group of guys who come to play for the Barbarians are really revved because this group of guys played really well”. There is nothing that would make me change my mind. He suggested England do not need to tear up their long-term vision and turn to a hired gun, citing the strength of numerous English coaches who could step up from club level.
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England’s governing body, the RFU, wants a coach of “proven global experience”. “I’m enjoying that and I want to do the best I can in that role for as long as I can”. Cheika added: “There are also guys like Jim Mallinder, Rob Baxter and Dean Richards”.
