So, for the first time, the job that media reports say carries a 500,000 pounds a year salary, seems likely to be offered to one of the elite band of overseas coaches with an impressive track record, headed by South African Jake White and Australian Eddie Jones. “I can win the World Cup for England”.
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“Everyone in world rugby knows this is one of the prime jobs, in fact even in world sports”, White told Sky Sports. I just react to what I have seen.
“I have been in this (situation) three times already”.
“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”.
It’s all very well RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie saying that England will scour the world for a new coach and that money is no object – but simply throwing cash at the problem won’t solve it.
The RFU’s head of professional coach development, Kevin Bowring, steps down from his role in June. “To do that we have to have repeat efforts, and you have to get off the ground quickly”, Jones said.
“Nothing has changed since then for me”. I am who I am and I have coached who I have coached.
“My CV stands itself. The longer the World Cup review lasted, the more unseemly it has been for Stuart Lancaster”. Toulon flanker Steffon Armitage was the only English flanker capable of matching the specific skills of Wales’s Sam Warburton and Australia’s David Pocock and Michael Hooper, and his omission from the World Cup proved crucial to the outcome of both games.
Bath boss Ford, for instance, was a long-term member of previous England coaching set-ups, while there are many who will put forward strong claims for Northampton rugby director Mallinder, Exeter head coach Baxter and Worcester chief Ryan.
Meanwhile, Jones said in South Africa he was committed to the Stormers Super Rugby team, which he took over on November 1.
The 2011 World Cup victor was followed by New Zealand assistant coach Smith, who said: “I’m being clear with everyone that I’m not coaching full-time in 2016”.
Lancaster never played at the highest level and had won nothing as a coach, apart from a promotion challenge, before he took the England job.
Gregor Townsend yesterday gave the predictable response to the inevitable question of whether he would be throwing his hat into the ring for the post of head coach of England, insisting, instead, that he has a great deal of sympathy for Stuart Lancaster, a man he clearly respects.
During the World Cup, the RFU also denied approaching Nick Mallett, the former South Africa and Italy coach.
Lancaster vacated his role on Wednesday after host nation England failed to make it beyond the pool stage of the Rugby World Cup.
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Townsend’s future after his current contract runs out at the end of the season may be far from certain, and one of the most exciting and successful young coaches in Europe will have no shortage of suitors from England and France. It remains with an “exceptional circumstances” clause, covering areas such as injuries, suspensions and sudden retirements.
