TO the surprise of absolutely nobody, Stuart Lancaster has left his job as England head coach – a move described by Gregor Townsend in Scotland as “a sad day for coaching”.
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White insisted the only way he would succeed Stuart Lancaster was if the Rugby Football Union (RFU) chased his services, and not the other way around. That means I have to align myself with the side that I think I can get the best out of.
“With Woodward at the helm, I would feel confident that the right coaching team would be brought in, and the right structures put in place to return England to the top of the worldwide game”. I’ve been in this position before, and I’ve said openly I don’t want to be in the middle of shortlists.
RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie praised the “extremely comprehensive” review which ultimately led to Lancaster’s departure – before placing on record his thanks for the work done by the outgoing head coach.
But with a lack of English coaches on the worldwide stage, the job is likely to be given to someone from outside of Britain with New Zealand-born Joe Schmidt and Australian Michael Chieka early favourites.
This speculation was quickly played down by the New Zealander, who effectively ruled himself out of the running by categorically stating that he had no intention of jumping ship prior to the next Rugby World Cup.
Eddie Jones and Wayne Smith both claimed they had no interest in any advances from England, despite the RFU vowing to break the bank with the cash offer for their new appointment.
In September, just prior to the start of the World Cup, Ritchie said he would accept “responsibility” for appointing Lancaster if the team fell short at the World Cup.
When asked about being approached for the England job, the two-time IRB Coach of the Year said: “If they’re genuinely interested in me, and they thought I was the right guy, I’d be honoured to be involved”.
“I think we all know elite sport is about fine margins, but it also about winning in a highly competitive environment”, Ritchie, chair of the five-man panel appointed to lead a review into England’s latest failure, said according to BBC Sport.
“Our focus is upon recruiting the best possible head coach”.
By holding another very public inquest rather than making a quick and decisive decision, the RFU allowed open season on Lancaster’s England making it virtually impossible for him, and possibly captain Chris Robshaw, to remain.
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The RFU statement made no mention of assistant coaches Graham Rowntree, Andy Farrell and Mike Catt, who all now face an uncertain future.
