Joe Schmidt did not look happy when a job rumour was brought into the open.
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Stuart Lancaster’s hopes of a swift decision over his future as England head coach have been thwarted as RFU bosses stall over the make-up of the review panel which will decide his fate.
A couple of credible rugby sources ran with the story that may be nothing more than wishful thinking from the RFU after a wretched World Cup.
Lancaster, whose position is under enormous pressure along with the rest of his three-man coaching team, had called for a “speedy” resolution but that call has fallen on deaf ears.
The Midi Olympique report (subscription required) suggests that the England job would be a step up for Schmidt, somehow overlooking the fact that Ireland are looking forward to a World Cup quarter-final this weekend and are back-to-back Six Nations Champions.
Asked about it in his press conference this afternoon, he said: “I don’t know where that’s come from at all, externally I’d be a fan of Stuart Lancaster”.
“Stuart is a first-class character”.
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England were fined nearly £60,000, half of which was suspended, for breaching the World Cup participation agreement for failing to meet their post-match media requirements following their defeat by Australia, Telegraph Sport can reveal. “I certainly won’t be going after his job”.
