Wallabies coach Michael Cheika’s the latest high profile coach to dismiss any talk of taking the vacant England role.
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Cheika led the Wallabies to the World Cup final just 12 months after taking over Australia’s top job while Lancaster’s men bombed out of their home tournament in spectacular fashion.
Determined not to be messed around for a third time, White has called on RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie to install him as the organisation’s top choice before he will consider succeeding Lancaster, who was widely criticised for his lack of top-level experience during England’s World Cup pool stage exit.
Cheika was only appointed Australia coach in October 2014 and in a year turned a side then in disarray into World Cup finalists. Steve Hansen, Graham Henry, Wayne Smith, Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt have all distanced themselves from the position.
Cheika, who takes charge of the Barbarians invitational side at Gloucester on Tuesday, declared there are “lots” of good English coaches who could do the job and namechecked Dorian West, Jim Mallinder (both currenly at Northampton ), Rob Baxter (Exeter) and Dean Richards (Newcastle).
While admitting there had not been any formal discussions yet, Cheika added: “If they want me to [extend my contract], for sure”.
“Obviously when the chance came to coach Australia you don’t say no to that and I’ve enjoyed the first year of doing it”.
South African Jake White, who led the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007, was the early favourite among bookmakers for a job that media reports claim carries an annual salary of £500,000 pounds. “I’m enjoying that and I want to do the best I can in that role for as long as I can”. “But I wrote, back when he was given a six-year contract, that when it came down to it, he would do the honourable thing if he failed – and he has done”.
Yet, though the RFU has set out its stall to find a coach with that sort of global pedigree, Cheika was adamant that there are coaches in the English club game who should be considered. “There’s nothing that would make me change my mind”, Cheika said.
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“I’m an Australian coaching Australia – it’s like the dream”. I just think you’ve got to build something from within; you have an idea of what you want and you grow that.
