Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones yesterday became the latest big name to jostle for position as England seek a new rugby coach after Martin Johnson stepped down.
Johnson quit on Wednesday amid a series of Rugby Football Union (RFU) reviews into its own governance and England’s dismal World Cup campaign in New Zealand.
Their tournament ended in a quarter-final defeat to France and was characterized by ill-discipline both on and off the pitch throughout the event.
Still effectively rudderless at boardroom level — and now without a national team coach — England will want to move decisively to put its house in order before hosting the next World Cup in 2015.
A number of big names have been mentioned in regard to the coach’s position and Jones yesterday joined the throng.
“You’d always be interested in coaching England,” he told BBC radio, adding that the rewards of getting the team back on track would be enormous.
“It has got a fantastic domestic competition, very, very good players and you have just got to get the right program in place and they should be good enough to win the next World Cup,” Jones said.
Jones coached the Australian team beaten by England in the 2003 World Cup final, but tasted success in 2007 as a consultant to the victorious South African team.
“Over the last period of time, England rugby has lost its way and you’d have to question the people in place now,” Jones said.
Jones’s comments came shortly after England-born South African Nick Mallett ruled himself out of the running.
New Zealand’s World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry is among bookmakers’ favorites for the role, after resigning from the All Blacks earlier this month after eight years in charge.
However, the 65-year-old is still under contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union until March and has been touted for a mentoring role with the governing body of the sport in his home country.
Insiders’ favorite for the job is Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder. The former fullback coached England’s second-string Saxons between 2006 and 2007, winning 15 of his 16 matches in charge.
Mallinder earlier this month put himself in the frame.
“Every player should aspire to play for his country and I think that’s the same for coaches too,” he said. “If one day, I ever have that honor, it would be something that would be very difficult to turn down.”
Other names in the ring include 2003 World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward and former Ireland and US coach Eddie O’Sullivan.
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